School girls fight for Asian Games berths in the women’s 400 metres

by Reemus Fernando  

Men’s and women’s javelin throws and the 100 and 400 metres sprints are the main attractions when the postponed disciplines of the centenary National Athletics Championships are held at Diyagama today.

Sri Lanka Athletics had to postpone as many as 12 disciplines of the centenary National Championship to April 23 after almost the entire final day of the landmark event was affected by rain at Diyagama on April 10.

For the second consecutive national championship, school girls will be the closest rivals that defending champion Nadeesha Ramanayake has to compete against in the women’s 400 metres. In the 400 metres heats held on April 9th, Ramanayake clocked 53.73 seconds to win her heat. Apart from Ramanayake all others who clocked sub 56 seconds and the winners in the other heats were school girls. In the absence of Dilshi Kumarasinghe, who is nursing an injury, Ramanayake is the only senior contender. Kumarasinghe’s absence had forced athletics selectors to rethink fielding a mix relay team for the Asian Games.

The Sri Lanka Athletics had planned to field a mix relay team when the new discipline makes its quadrennial Games debut. But the injury to Kumarasinghe has raised concerns. Kumarasinghe’s training partner, young Tharushi Karunaratne of Ratnayake Central is currently punching above her weight and is expected to produce an interesting dual. It will be interesting to see whether she could deliver something special today. At the last Trial held in March Karunaratne turned tables on Ramanayake. Irrespective of the performances there is the prospect of a couple of school girls getting the nod for the Asian Games if Sri Lanka Athletics pick a women’s 4×400 metres relay team.

Jayeshi Uththara who returned a time of 54.96 seconds and Lakshima Mendis (55.74 secs) are the others who will be vying for honours in the women’s 400 metres.

The men’s 400 metres is heading towards an interesting finish with the Asian Junior Championship medallists Anura Dharshana and Pabasara Niku producing the fast performances in the heats. Niku clocked 46.99 seconds in the heats and the country’s fastest time this year belongs to Dharshana who clocked 46.37 seconds in the Trial held in March. Sri Lanka Athletics is however looking for sub 46 seconds to pick an athlete for the individual event at the Asian Games. The only athletes to run sub 46 seconds during the last five years are Dharshana and Kumarge. The latter running in the slowest heat of the day had a time of 48.09 seconds on April 10. Have they gained enough speed during the last 12 days to match the qualifying standards of 45.70 seconds is the big question?

Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe is the only athlete to have reached locally set qualifying standards for the Asian Games in the men’s category. His 81.79 metres mark recorded in March is the third furthest throw in Asia this year. He will be eager to come up with strong performances today to further establish his place as an international medal prospect. Apart from Sumedha, the US based high jumper Ushan Thivanka is the only athlete in the men’s category to have reached qualifying standards for the Asian event.

In the women’s Javelin throw Dilhani Lekamge will be looking to reach the 58 metres mark and will be up against a field inclusive of up an coming H.D. Maduwanthi and Olympian Nadeeka Lakmali.

The men’s 100 metres heats were held without the two fastest men. While former national record holder Himasha Eshan remains suspended, current record holder Yupun Abeykoon is based in Italy. In their absence Chamod Yodhasinghe heads into today’s final rounds as the favourite. His was the fastest time in the heats.

The women’s 100 metres is expected to be a contest between Shelinda Jansen, Amesha de Silva and Medhani Jayamanne. De Silva is the favourite. She clocked 11.63 seconds in the heats and would be gunning for the 11.40 seconds to qualify for the Asian Games.

The men’s triple jump, women’s high jump, women’s shot put and the men’s 1,500 metres are the other events that will be held today.

Meanwhile the special trial will be held for the men’s long jump after athletes raised objections against the standard of the take off board used at the National Championships. An official said that the result of the men’s long jump at the National Championship will not be changed. The men’s long jump event will be held as a separate event and will only be considered for selections.