Tharushi battles wet track conditions and ‘step motherly treatment’ to boost Olympic hopes

by Reemus Fernando 

Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne battled wet track conditions and what her coach Susantha Fernando termed as ‘step motherly treatment’ to secure the  800 metres title on the final day of the 102nd National Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Thursday.

Pushed hard at some stages of the race by Olympian Nimali Liyanarachchi, the former Ratnayake Central Walala athlete competed with determination to defy wet conditions to finish in a time of 2:04.22 seconds.

‘She was expecting a better time but puddles of water in the inner lane prevented her from achieving that. We requested officials to delay the race untill the water in the inner lane is mopped up. But it never happened. This is ridiculous. This is not just a race. Her Olympic participation is determined by the performance. We are really disappointed. This is step motherly treatment,” Fernando told The Island after the race.

Incidentally, the men’s javelin on the first day was delayed by an hour due to wet track conditions. And on the second day athletic officials went out of their way to support Yupun Abeykoon. In an unprecedented move he was allocated a place in the main track for his warm up while all other sprinters warmed up at the designated warm up area under the main pavilion.

On the second day the inner track was mopped prior to some events.

Despite the set back her performance and the national title has boosted her hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics as she has accumulated valuable points to be ranked among the top 43 athletes. The final ranking list will be updated by World Athletics after the June 30 deadline.

Meanwhile Karunaratne had requested that the National Open Stage II competition,  the final qualifying opportunity for Paris Olympic aspirants scheduled for June 30 be held at Diyagama as the deteriorating track at the Sugathadasa Stadium will hinder performances of athletes vying to secure Olympic berths.

The 19 year old and sprinter Aruna Dharshana were adjudged the best athletes of the three-day Championship.

Incidentally, Karunaratne’s brother Harsha bagged the men’s 800 metres title with a performance of 1:52.23 seconds. He was adjudged the best middle distance runner in the men’s category.