Ashmika breaks triple jump record, Anuhas reaches qualifying standards for Asian Youth event 

Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championships 

by Reemus Fernando  

The Under 20 boys’ triple jump event of the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championships witnessed a dramatic finish with the top two destroying the meet record and the event favourite finishing just outside the podium as the highly competitive field event set the tone for an intriguing first day at Diyagama yesterday.

The winner Ashmika Keshan Koralage of Yoshida Shokanji International School Sapugaskanda and runner up K. V. M. Yasiru of Kahawaththa Central College were separated by just three centimeters as both bettered the 2015 record mark of Shreshan Dananjaya. Keshan cleared a distance of 15.64 metres to own the new meet record.

St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road athlete Pasindu Malshan was the favourite as he was returning to local competition after taking part in the World Junior Championships in Cali. He fought back strongly to be among the first eight and later settled for a distance of 15.25 metres to finish fourth.

The premier athletics event conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association saw thousands of athletes from all corners of the island converge at Diyagama to test their skills. Apart from podium positions the athletes in the Under 18 age category are also vying to reach qualifying standards for the Asian Youth Athletics Championships.

Ashmika Keshan Koralage of Yoshida International
School Sapugaskanda established a new meet
record in the Under 20 boys’ triple jump. (Pix by
Kamal Wanniarachchi)

Of the athletes competing in the Under 18 age category, Deneth Anuhas of Bodagama MV, Thanamalwila was the standout performer as he reached locally set qualifying standards for the Asian Youth Championships to be held in October.

Anuhas cleared 2.06 metres to win the Under 18 boys’ high jump. Sri Lanka Athletics selectors had set 2.04 metres as the qualifying mark for the Asian event.

The record participation at the four –day event forced officials to postpone many track events scheduled for the afternoon session to the second day. When this article was field from Diyagama around 7pm the Under 20 boys’ 800 metres heats which were to be held at 12.20 noon was still to be conducted.