by Reemus Fernando

Asian Games medallist Aruna Dharshana has given athletics fraternity new hopes in an Olympic year, hogging limelight at local track and field events. Dharshana, trained by Asanka Rajakaruna reached his personal best performances in both the 200 metres and 400 metres as he won the two disciplines with new meet record marks at the Sri Lanka Army Athletics Championships concluded in Colombo over the weekend.

The Sri Lanka Artillery athlete clocked 45.30 seconds to win the men’s 400 metres ahead of fellow Asian Games medallist Kalinga Kumarage, who returned a time of 45.35 seconds. It was Kalinga, who was ahead at the first selection trial held early last month.

The early season performance by Dharshana and Kumarage rank among the best 20 performances in the world this year and will augur well for the sprinters aspiring to excel at the World Relays in Bahamas and first Asian Relay Championship in Bangkok. Sri Lanka Athletics is looking forward to field a strong team for the men’s 4×400 metres relay to reach qualifying standards for this year’s Olympics at the World Relays in Bahamas.

Both sprinters bettered the Army Athletics Championship records in the 200 metres and the 400 metres. While Dharshana clocked 20.45 seconds to win the 200 metres, Kumarage returned a time of 20.59 seconds to finish second.

The impressive personal best feat of Dharshana and Kumarage’s seasonal best in the 400 metres are likely to elevate them to the first two positions in the Asian top list when World Athletics update statistics this week.

Rajitha Rajakaruna who was part of the Asian Games medal winning relay team, finished third behind Dharshana and Kumarage in the 400 metres, while Harsha Karunaratne reached his personal best of 46.82 seconds to finish fourth at the Army Championships. The winner of the men’s 800 metres, Karunaratne had a personal best of 46.83 form 2021.

Sri Lanka Athletics is preparing to send a strong team for the first Asian Relays to be held on May 20 and 21 in Bangkok, Thailand. The track and field governing body will conduct a selection trial for selected number of athletes on April 10 to pick the team for the Asian event.

The SLA announced names of nine athletes each for men’s and women’s 100 metres and men’s and women’s 400 metres selection trial yesterday.

100m Women:

Amasha Silva, Rumeshika Rathnayaka, Medhani Jayamanna, Shafiya Yamic, Anurudhika Muthukumarana, Lakshika Sugandi, Shenella Senevirathne, H.R.D.S. Ranasgalla, Dinara Bandara Dela.

100m Men:

Chamod Yodasinghe, Merone Wijesinghe, Chanuka Dharmakeerthi, R.P.K.M. Chathuranga, Chalith Piumal, D.P.H. Gamlath, Deneth Senanayaka, Ajith Premakumara, Dineth Induwara.

400m Women:

Sayuri Mendis, Shanika Lakshani, Takshima Nuhansa, Jithma Wijethunga, W.H.M. Fernando, Nishendra Fernando, Tharushi Karunarathna, Rumeshika Rathnayaka, Shafiya Yamic.

400m Men:

Pasindu Kodikara, Dinuka Deshan, Pabasara Niku, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Harsha Karunarathna, R.A. Ishan Maduranga, R.P. Isuru Lakshan, Isuru Abewardana, G.W. Jathya Kirulu.