Army Woman Nilani Rathnayake stole the show on the opening day of the 93rd National Athletics Championship as she set a new Sri Lanka record in the 3,000m Steeple Chase yesterday at Diyagama.
Rathnayake clocked 10:09.49 seconds and erased the previous record set by Eranga Dulaksi (10:11.72 sec) in 2012 at the National Championship. Rathnayake hailing from Ratnapura Sumana BV, is now training under renowned middle distance coach Sajith Jayalal, who is also the Director of the National Institute of Sports Science.
“It’s been a long hard road for me. We trained about two years at a stretch in Diyatalawa while travelling all the way back to Colombo for meets” said Rathnayake, who was behind Dulakshi at the initial stages, before really showing improvement by last year where she clocked 10 minutes 15 seconds .
“I met her back in 2008 during her school days and told her to come and train under me and I’ll take you to the Olympics (which didn’t happen), but ultimately by 2011 she came to me and this is just the beginning for her” said Jayalal who has already produced Olympic qualified athletes this year.
Rathnayake who had modest success in school athletics, joined the Army as a regular soldier, not for sports, but her ability in sports had been identified during her six months long Army training where she had been directed to Jayalal for further training.
Niluka Rajasekara, who also trains under Sajith Jayalal, and who has already qualified for the forthcoming IAAF World Championship and the Olympics, clocked 34 minutes 50.40 seconds to win the women’s 10,000m after returning from their training in Diyatalawa and Haputale.
Meanwhile, in the morning Vidusha Lakshani continued her gold medal streak as she became National Champion in the long jump event with a distance of 5:96m in the women’s final.
Lakshani the 19-year-old former Newstead Girls’ College, Negombo athlete, and second placed D.E. Rathnasiri, jumped a similar distance of 5:96m, but Lakshani was adjudged the gold medallist due to her second best jump which was 5:86m while Rathnasiri had a 5:84m jump.
Ishara Sandaruwan once again came close to setting the Pole Vault National record as he jumped 4:75m in the men’s pole vault final to defend his title. Sandaruwan who had a personal best of 4:80m last year, skipped 5:80m and tried for the national record 4:85m after 5:75m, but couldn’t clear the height.
Amanthi Silva, a schoolgirl from St. Bridget’s Convent Colombo, won the women’s discus throw with 39.46m, while two Airwomen, A.A. Maduwanthi (38.90 m) and S.K. Weerasekara (38:84m) were placed second and third.
Young sprinter Himasha Eashan clocked 10.47 seconds in the 100m semi- finals indicating an exciting final today, while none of the women went under 12 seconds during the heats of the women’s 100m.
Schoolgirl from Kegalle, Rumeshika Rathnayake did not participate at the event due to the upcoming advance level exams.
Men
Discus Throw: 1. Gayan Jayawardene 51:65m, 2. Z.T.M. Asik 41.34m, 3. D.B. Rathnayake 40:98m
Pole Vault : 1. Ishara Sandaruwan 4:75m, 2. Chinthaka Dinesh 4:50m, 3. K. Kantheedan 4:50m
Women
10000m women : 1. Niluka Rajasekara 34:50.39 sec, 2. SA Lamahewage 35:44.11 sec, 3. Lakmini Anuradhi 37:01.46 sec
Discus Throw: 1. Amanthi Silva 39:46m, 2. A.A. Maduwanthi 38:90m, 3. SK Weerasekara 38:48m
Long Jump: 1. Vidusha Lakshani 5:96m, 2. D.E. Rathnasiri 5:96m, 3. N.C.D. Priyadarshani 5:94m
3000m Steeple Chase: 1. Nilani Rathnayake 10:09.49 sec, 2. W.M. Kumari 10:57.37 sec, 3. D.P. Kumarage 11:23.27 sec
