Mohamed Saleemdeen (SLEME) produced an impressive 400 metres hurdles feat, while Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri pipped leading contender Milantha Sampath Dissanayake putting him in the second place to win the men’s long jump.
They turned out to be the two most notable performances on day two of the 50th Sri Lanka Army Athletics Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Former Trinity College athlete Saleemdeen clocked 52.21 seconds to win the men’s 400 metres hurdles ahead of his team-mate S. A. Chathuranga who clocked 52.24 seconds to finish second. Saleemdeen’s performance is so far the best achievement of the meet according to IAAF points tables.
In the men’s long jump Wimalasiri matched his personal best to beat leading contender Dissanayake with a leap of 7.49 metres. Dissanayake cleared only 7.34 metres.
It was the first time that these two athletes featured together at a top level national competition. Dissanayake was making a return after a short injury layoff.
Wimalasiri’s personal best (7.49m) was achieved on a grass track at the National Sports Festival at Nawalapitiya in September. Later in the same month Wimalasiri won the National Championship with a feat of 7.46 metres. Dissanayake was not available for both those meets.
