Manjula Kumarasinghe was leading the women’s race at the Irakkakandi New Bridge, but Velu Krishanthini (219 – in dark blue), surged past the experienced runner to win her maiden title under three hours at Trincomalee, on Sunday. On second left is D. A. Inoka.
Velu Krishanthi of the Central Province rose from the doldrums of last year’s disqualification to win the women’s title, while 27-year-old Pradeep Dhammika Arunasiri of the North Central Province turned tables on seasoned campaigners to win his maiden men’s title, at the National Sports Festival Marathon conducted here in Trincomalee, on Sunday.
Arunasiri, coached by Sajith Jayalal, was slightly trailing behind the lead bunch of four runners, including Ajith Bandara, Ajith Rathnayake and eventual runners-up Amila Sarath Kumara and Upul Vijitha Kumara until 35 kilometres, but later sped past them and maintained a steady speed to clock 29 minutes and 10 seconds. He was 13 seconds ahead of his closest rival Sarath Kumara.
Pradeep Dhammika Arunasiri wins the men’s marathon.
Southern Province athletes Sarath Kumara and Vijitha Kumara (2:30.50secs) finished second and third respectively, with more than a minute’s difference separating them.
Krishanthini, who was disqualified last year for accepting a drink offered outside a feeding point, surged past former title holder Manjula Kumarasinghe and veteran D. A. Inoka during the last 10 kilometres to win the women’s competition under three hours (2:59.18secs).
Krishanthini, who had come under the supervision of Jansz Dissanayake eight months ago, said that she was aiming at the Sri Lanka record and was confident right throughout that she would win the race.
Krishanthini commenced the race wearing running shoes, but concluded barefoot. “I was struggling with the shoes. They were rather new. I had not worn them enough to get accustomed to them. When I removed them, I found it easier to run and accelerated during the last five kilometres,” said Krishanthini, in reply to a query by ‘The Island’.
She was in the lead bunch during the first 15 kilometres, but two time champion Manjula Kumarasinghe took the lead after the halfway mark. Kumarasinghe was making a return after a two year layoff. She suffered a slight set back when she was not offered her energy drink at one of the feeding points, but managed to finish second behind Krishanthini.
The Western Province athlete clocked three hours, two minutes and 10 seconds. Dammika Malkanthi Weerakkody of Uva Province finished third in a time of three hours, three minutes and 01 second. The evergreen Inoka finished fourth (3:06.18secs).
Incidentally, this year’s winners of both the men’s and women’s marathon are from the Sri Lanka Navy.
Sailor Arunasiri, who won his maiden title said that he was aiming to achieve a good timing and was happy to win the title after failing to excel last year. “I trained hard for nearly three months. I came here last week to prepare well. I am happy to have won this,” said Anurasiri.
Both the men’s and women’s marathons started simultaneously at 5.00 am, one of the earliest starts observed in a Sri Lankan national marathon and the runners did not experience the first rays of sunshine until they reached the Irakkakandi New Bridge, more than one hour into the men’s race.
The race was conducted along the Trincomalee-Pulmoddai Road, with the start and finish taking place in close proximity to the Trincomalee Fort.
