Ushan improves national indoor high jump record again

by Reemus Fernando

High jumper Ushan Thivanka improved his personal best and the Indoor National record for the second time within a month as he won the men’s high jump of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship in the USA, where he is pursuing higher education.

Former Maris Stella College athlete cleared 2.26 metres to improve his Indoor National record by one centimeter. Representing Texas A&M University, Ushan cleared 2.25 metres last month to take under his name the Indoor National record held by Olympian Manjula Kumara.

Except Manjula Kumara, who holds the outdoor national record of 2.27 metres, no other Sri Lankan athlete has ever scaled the 2.26 metres mark.

With his impressive performance Ushan has proved the prediction of Olympian and Asian Games high jump gold medallist Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam right.

Last month the US based Ethirveerasingam told The Island that Ushan has the potential to break or equal Manjula’s record by April or May at an outdoor competition.

Ushan’s remarkable performance is ranked among the world’s top 15 indoor high jumps this year.

His 2.26 metres feat also offers a glimmer of hope for track and field enthusiasts who are eager to see local athletes reaching qualifying standards for the Tokyo Olympic.

World Athletics has set a tough 2.33 metres as the qualifying standard for men’s high jump. With 32 spots been allocated for high jump, Ushan will attempt to secure a world ranking within the top 32 during the next few months.