A year after Olympic qualifying debacle, will Nilani face the same predicament?

by Reemus Fernando

Steeplechase runner Nilani Ratnayake put back the disappointment of missing the Tokyo Olympics when she produced a superb world-leading time of 9:47.47 seconds at the first selection trial in February. More than a month after that feat her timing is the eighth fastest in the world for a steeplechaser this year and more importantly she is ranked 33rd in the World Athletics’ ‘Road to Oregon’ World Championship rankings. But with only the upcoming National Championship available to have another go at her own national record mark, will the same predicament that deprived her from taking part in the Olympics befall the Army athlete again?

Not many are aware of NIlani’s current standings in the ‘Road to Oregon’ World Championship rankings’. There is talk within the athletics fraternity to send a wildcard for the Athletics World Championship in Oregon, USA in July. Like the not-so-popular track discipline itself, the long distance runner too remain in the shadows of more flamboyant athletes, though her impressive performance has placed her at the forefront of the race to win qualifying standards for the world event. According to World Athletics some 45 athletes are selected for the women’s steeplechase with 24 being chosen by entry standards and another 21 picked by world rankings positions. Though Nilani remains in contention for World Championship participation on today’s standings, the lack of top grade competitions will hinder her chances of maintaining the current position.

In the lead up to Tokyo Olympics, Nilani was Sri Lanka’s prime prospect in track and field sports as she was within the required rankings to earn a place in the team to Japan. Six months ahead of the Olympics she was ranked 35th in the world and the then World Athletics ‘Road to Olympics rankings’ showed that what was required was just maintaining that position. But lack of quality competitions and a technical faux pass at one of the local competitions meant that she missed the opportunity. On the cutoff date to reach qualifying standards she was ranked just outside the ‘Road to Olympic Rankings’.

Now in a World Championship year, Ratnayake is ranked 33rd in the ‘Road to Oregon rankings’. There will be top competitions accessible to her counterparts from other countries but her.

With the World Championship coinciding with Sri Lanka Athletics Centenary year it is only appropriate that the country’s governing body and the Ministry of Sports do their best to send qualified athletes for the world event rather than taking the easy option of sending a wildcard.

In the men’s category the US based high jumper Ushan Thiwanka has produced some outstanding performances. Despite improving the country’s indoor high jump record, he did not get an opportunity to take part in the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade where he could have earned valuable points to improve on his world ranking and the prospect of qualifying for the World Championships.

The ranking system, introduced by World Athletics a couple of years ago, requires you to compete in top grade competitions to improve your rankings.  Despite having a personal best of 2.30 metres (Sri Lanka record) from May 2021 and producing a seasonal best of 2.27metres in February this year Thiwanka is not in the World Athletics’ ‘Road to Oregon’ World Championship rankings so far. His 2.27 metres produced in February is the third best performance in the world in an outdoor competition this year. At the World Indoor Championships only six athletes had jumped higher than Thiwanka’s seasonal best. Yet such a bright prospect like Thivanka will not be eligible to compete at the World Championships.

The athletes like Thivanka and NIlani only need top grade competitions to improve their rankings. Recently when asked about Sri Lanka Athletics’ plans to help top athletes improve on their rankings the athletics chief said that a Grand Prix will be held in June to help them. But with the country’s current economic crisis it is doubtful whether the cash trapped institutions would be able to provide the necessary support  to make it a reality.