Sprinter Medhani Jayamanne improved her personal best twice in the 200 metres but her best effort was not enough to take her beyond the semi-final stage on day three of the World Junior Athletics Championship in Nairobi on Friday.

Jayamanne first clocked 24.01 seconds in the heats to advance to the semi final of the women’s 200 metres.  The Lumbini College athlete’s 24.01 seconds effort secured her the fourth place in the second heat where Namibia’s Beatrice Masilingi cruised to win in 22.65 seconds. Beatrice Masilingi was the fastest in five heats as some 15 clocked sub 24 seconds in the half lap race. Later in the semi-finals Beatrice Masilingi stormed to a championship record time of 22.19 seconds to emerge as the clear favourite over compatriot Christine Mboma who too bettered the previous record mark in her semi-final.

Jayamanne improved her personal best for the second time when she clocked sub 24 seconds for the first time. She proved her coach and South Asian Games medallist Umanga Surendra right by clocking 23.95 seconds in her semi-final. Surendra had earlier predicted that his charge would improve her personal best in Nairobi.

The 800 metres runner Tharushi Karunaratne too was eliminated in the semi-finals after failing to relive the performances she produced in the heat. However despite finishing last in her semi-final she had gained vital exposure as she is eligible to compete in the next edition as well.

Yesterday the Ratnayake Central athlete could only return a time of 2:17.82 seconds as she finished last in her semi-final.

With the elimination of the two athletes in the semi-finals Sri Lanka’s World Junior Championship campaign came to an end.

Sri Lanka featuring in the 4×400 metres mixed relay final was the highlight of their campaign.