Veteran middle distance runner Gayanthika Abeyratne managed to renew the Women’s 800m National Record in the Heats of the event at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Abeyratne competed in Heat number 2 and placed 5th with a timing of 2:01.20 min which is a reduction of 0.24 seconds from the previous record held by her, which she set earlier this year in Diyagama at the Centenary National Championships.
However, she failed to qualify for the finals as it was already a tough heat with three world class athletes from Jamaica, Scotland and England also in the mix. The top two athletes of each heat (3 heats) progressed to the final while the next 2 final spots were awarded to the fastest losers.
Read : Sri Lanka Athletics to challenge Commonwealth Nations
This is not the end of Abeyratne’s Birmingham journey as she will be running the 1500m heats on August 5th.
Read : Yupun Abeykoon wins Heat with ease to qualify for semis
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan speedster Yupun Abeykoon dominated the 100m field to qualify for the semifinals today and will be competing for a spot in the finals tomorrow at 11.40pm (SL time).
Sri Lanka Athletes’ schedule
| Event | Round | Time |
| Men’s 400m | R1 | Aug 3 – 16:50 |
| Men’s 100m | SF | Aug 3rd – 23:40 |
| Men’s F42 Discuss | F | Aug 4 – 01:15 |
| Men’s 100m | F | Aug 4 – 02:00 |
| Women’s 1500m | R1 | Aug 5th – 15:45 |
| Women’s Long Jump | R1 | Aug 5th – 16:10 |
| Men’s 400m | SF | Aug 6th – 01:30 |
| Women’s 3000m SC | F | Aug 6th – 02:12 |
| Men’s 400m | F | Aug 7th – 15:15 |
| Women’s Long Jump | F | Aug 7th – 23:35 |
| Women’s 1500m | F | Aug 7th – 23:50 |
| Men’s Javelin Throw | F | Aug 8th – 00:10 |
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