The second & the final day of the National trials aimed at picking the preliminary squad for the Asian Athletic Championship 2019 was held today at the Sugathadasa Stadium with a host of finals being conducted.
Related : National record for Greshan as sprinters turn up the heat
Second national record of the competition was recorded today with Himasha Eshan sprinting his way to clock himself as the fastest Sri Lankan sprinter. He managed to break his own national record in the men’s 100m. Himasha continuing his good form from the first day of the trials where he clocked a wind assisted 10.11 & 10.12 seconds which were not considered for results as both times were recorded when the wind reading was above the legal limit. Sri Lanka’s premier sprinter proved his doubters wrong as he managed to produce an impressive run in the finals today clocking 10.22sec. Himasha was also the holder of the South Asian record for his performance of 10.26secs at the south Asian Games in 2016 and with this terrific run has now renewed the South Asian record as well.
Day 01 Photos : Senior National Trial 2019
Shelinda Jansen who delivered her personal best time in the 100m on the opening day of the meet, went from strength to strength as she managed to clock an impressive 11.93secs in the Women’s 100m final, bettering her previous personal best of 12.06secs. This is a terrific show by the young pocket dynamo who is really turning out to be one to look out for in the future. Earlier in the day she also won the final of the 200m with very little competition which affected her timing in the final. Jansen clocked a time of 24.74secs in the final but had previously clocked 24.41secs in the heats of the event on the opening day. Omaya Udayangani was placed second clocking 24.58secs while S S Jayathilaka was placed third clocking 25.54secs.
Speedster Vinoj Suranjaya who has been in the news for his terrific run in the 100m heats on the first day’s action and also his eye-catching time in the 200m heats where he clocked a time of 21.10 failed to better his time in the finals of the event as he finished with a time of 21.39secs. Up and coming sprinter Mohamad Safan was placed second clocking 21.86secs while Shehan Ambeypitiya finished in third place with a time of 21.91secs.
The highly competitive Men’s Long Jump event, which has 04 jumpers bordering the 8m mark was won by Prasbad Wimalasiri who the national record holder of the event is. Wimalasiri who was in good form last year continued his momentum at the very first outing of this year as he managed to produce a best leap of 8.07m. He was the only athlete who managed to breach the 8m mark in the event and notched a jump of 8.02m as well. Dhanushaka Sandaruwan was placed second leaping 7.89m while Amila Jayasiri ended third with a performance of 7.86m. While Wimalasiri managed to better the qualification standard of 7.90m Sandaruwan too might get an opportunity as his was just fractions short.
In the much looked forward to Women’s 800m, which has been keenly fought by Nimali Liyanarachchi, Gayanthika Abeyrathne throughout the past years was given more flavour with the addition of young Dilishi Kumarasinghe of the South Asian and Asian Junior fame. Dilishi delivered an inspiring run in the opening few meters resulting in the two veterans picking up pace in the race. Nimali Liyanarachchi delivered a brilliant time of 02.02.83 which was fractions short of her personal best time of 02.02.53. National record holder in the event Gayanthika was placed second clocking 2:03.36 while the young Dilishi was placed third clocking 2:04.23. All three of the athletes are within the expected standard of 02.04.5 and is great for the future of the event.
With Indunil Herath, Sri Lanka’s top 800m athlete not competing in the event, Kupun Kushantha was strongly pipped to take the top spot in the Men’s 800m, Kupun started strongly and set the pace of the race in the opening lap but could not keep up pace in the final 200m as the youngsters G R Chathuranga SK Wedagedara, Susantha Kumara and Isuru Lakshan managed to out run Kupun in the home straight. Chathuranga took the win clocking 1:50.47 while Wedagedara and Susnatha Kumara were place second and third clocking 1:51.03 & 1:51.17 respectively. With the qualification standard set at 1:48.00 none of the men managed to get through qualification.
The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka will form an initial pool which will stay and train in Colombo providing the athletes an opportunity to uplift their performances prior to the second national trial which is set to be held end of March. Visit www.thepapare.com/athletics to be updated about all the athletic news.
