by Reemus Fernando

Sprinters Merone Wijesinghe of Ananda College, Colombo and Dinara Bandara Dela of Gateway College, Colombo who won the Under 20 boys’ and girls’ 100 metres sprints at the just concluded Junior National Athletics Championships will complete the eight member team for the upcoming Asian Junior Athletics Championships.

Wijesinghe returned a time of 10.79 seconds to win the Under 20 boys’ 100 metres at the Junior Nationals on Wednesday. However, it was his 10.77 seconds feat performed at the Selection trial that has forced the selectors to pick him in the team.

Dinara clocked 12.15 seconds to win the Under 20 girls’ 100 metres at the Junior National Championships after returning a time of 12.04 seconds to a tailwind of +1.1 in the heats. Her selection to the Asian event had been based on her 12.11 seconds winning feat performed at the Selection Trial.

Five athletes reached locally set qualifying standards for the Asian Junior Championships which will be held in Yecheon, South Korea in June. According to sources the Athletics officials have decided to send an eight member team filling the last three spots with athletes who came almost close to matching the qualifying standards.

While Kahawatta Central Triple Jumper Malith Yasiru, St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura hurdler T.O.V. Ariyawansa, Ratnayake Central, Walala runner Tharushi Karunaratne, sprinter Jayeshi Uththara and Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya high jumper Pehansa Gamage reached qualifying standards for the Asian event, there were others who were almost close to achieving qualifying standards.

Shehan Dilranga of Ratnayake Central who clocked 1:53.74 seconds in the 800 metres and 3:58.94 seconds in the 1,500 metres is the other athlete selected in the team. The team is yet to get the Sports Ministry approval.