The third day of the centenary National Athletics Championship was washed out yesterday after only four final events possible to held in the morning session at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium.
The Vice President of the Sri Lanka Athletes (SLC) G.L.S Perera said the rest of the events of the final day, yesterday have been postponed to April 23 at the same venue.
The morning session started with long distance two events 10,000m men and 5000m women’s while major key events men’s and women’s 100m, men’s and women’s 400m,and men’s and women’s javelin throw and men’s 1500m are among the postponed events.
Earlier on day two Nilani Ratnayake and Gayanthika Abeyratne renewed National Records in their respective events. Nilani Ratnayake clocked a 9:40.25min renewing the Women’s 300m Steeplechase after 4 years. Gayanthika Abeyratne who won her 1500m event on first day returned to the track to smash the Women’s 800m event record with yet another National Record. Gayanthika the 35-year-old experienced athlete shattered Dilshi Kumarasinghe’s 800m record with a time of 2:01.44min.In fact Gayanthika was already got Asian qualification twice at 1500m now heading for World Championship qualification.
At the 800m race Gayanthika was followed by Nimali Liyanarachchi and young Tharushi Karunaratne, the young star from Walala who also broke Kumarasinghe’s Junior National record, clocking 2:04.40min. Kumarasinghe opted out from the National meet due to a leg injury.
Meanwhile Sachini Perera the women’s pole vault champion has renewed her record in the event for the third time in 2022. In February she recorded a 3.65m, then a 3.70m in March in the Second Selection trial, and now a 3.71m record height to finish off Day 2 of the National Athletics Championship and it was a superb achievement by Sachini Perera .
Sarangi Silva the long jump National record holder came out with another strong first place finish in the Women’s Long Jump event, marking a distance of 6.52m which was the new meet record. Anjani Pulwansa came second in the event with a 6.01m. In the Men’s long jump final, Amila Wimalasiri won by a slim margin over Shreshan Dananjaya, marking 7.69 to Dananjaya’s 7.63m.
Women’s 200m final between Shelinda Jansen and Medhani Jayamanne made a keen contest but Medhani prevailed and won gold with a time of 24.58 seconds. Mohomed Safan was crowned the 2022 Men’s National champion in the Men’s 200m event. Safan clocked 21.44sec to win the title.
Meanwhile Lakshika Sugandi and Ireshani Rajasinghe went head-to-head in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, but SAF gold medalist Sugandi came up with better timing of 13.70seconds in the end to win the event while Rajasinghe trailed in second with a time of 14.36seconds.
Roshan Dammika Ranathunga the National record holder also held on to his Men’s 110m Hurdles title with a timing of 14.05sec. Anuradha Srimal finished second in the final behind Ranathunga with a time of 14.55sec.
At the 400m Hurdles, Kaushalya Madushani dominated the Women’s final by winning the event and She clocked 58.73sec to finish first while second-place winner young Amesha Hettiarachchi, who clocked 1:00.23min to record a New Junior National Record.
The Men’s 3000m Steeplechase event was won by Bandara Herath who clocked 8:57.12min while Rusiru Chathuranga’s magnificent run in the Men’s 800m final made for a great comeback. Chathuranga beat Kupun Kushantha with a time of 1:50.84min.
This National championship also considered as the final selection trail for Asian and Commonwealth games.
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