Sports

Practical ideas for young high jumpers, athletes, parents, teachers and coaches

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

An Olympian writes

by Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam

In villages and urban areas in Sri Lanka children play softball cricket, soccer, running and jumping after school, weekends and during end-of-term holidays. This article is based on my experience from 1943. Children can use space available in areas near their houses or in space available around their house. Children are creative, to plan, execute and resolve their problems and learn from their errors.

It is important for children to actively take part in sports with whatever facilities available. If none are available to make them, they can play indigenous games that uses legs, hands, running, jumping, balls, seeds, marbles to create strategies, problem solving and decision making, and learn social and sportsmanship skills. In all games the participants will learn to abide by the rules and decision made by the Referee or Umpire.

In athletics, we dug high jump and pole vault pits. We loosened the soil with a spade. The high jump and pole vault posts were two thick straight branches from the Poovarasu tree planted permanently with nails driven two inches apart. The bar was a one-inch thick branch of the same tree. The pole was a straight branch thicker than the cross bar.

At school, the high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault pits were filled with sand. The pole vault standards were made of wood with a base. It had a movable part inside the main post that can be raised to 12 or 13 ft. For high jump the same posts or posts 6’ 6″ with a base is used. All wooden posts were made by carpenters in Jaffna adopting design in sports books or modeled after the posts in schools in Colombo. The poles were bamboo of different length and thickness. They were cured in fire made from dry leaves to strengthen them.

The loosened soil or sand in the jumping pit dictated we land in one or both feet in the high jump or pole vault. The bar clearance was sideways or chest facing the bar. In the high jump most used the scissors style and land in one or both feet. Older jumpers used Eastern Cut Off. In that style they ran from the front of the bar, made a curve going outside one of the posts and took off with one foot.

In 1948 we read in the papers the results of the athletic events. We saw the pictures of events. We saw Harrison Dillard won the 100m. Australian John Winter won the high jump using the Eastern Cut-Off style. In 1949 my school Principal, Rev. C.A. Smith took the whole school to see the London Olympics at the Regal Theatre near the Fort. We saw the 400m hurdles and Duncan White winning Silver Medal. It is then I wanted to compete in an Olympic Games someday. Did not tell anyone. I did not think at that time that I will take part in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

I am sure a 14-year-old or older watching the 2020 (2021) Olympics on television will be inspired to train to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games or Los Angeles Games in 2028.

If you are a beginning high jumper dreaming of competing in future Olympic Games, start with jumping using the scissors style. But with a run-up with a 4-stride curve at the end before you take-off. A sand pit, or a pit with loosened soil is sufficient. The posts and bar can be from branches like described above. This advice is for high jumpers, coaches and parents. Such beginning will help to learn the fundamentals of high jumping and requirements for a technically correct run-up and take-off. It will help to clear the bar using the flop style. When you can jump 1.55m or 1.60m with scissors you can then learn to jump using the flop from an experienced coach who has coached high jumpers who had jumped at least two metres or higher.

Many people, parents and teachers often assume that, jumping, running, hurdling and throwing does not teach children about what is required by the curricula and National Examinations. This is far from the truth. Athletics, cricket, football and other games teach principles of science, especially physics. We learn principles of social science, mathematics and about the working of the muscles, exhaustion, recovery and abiding by the rules of the games and decisions of referees and umpires. A sportsperson is consumed by sports and desire to excel they spend much of their study time daydreaming or figuring out how best to practice and perform better.

The best way the education system can help the sportspersons to do well in sports and studies is to require students to earn credit passes in the subjects at the end of a term to represent the school and take part in sports. The sportspersons will earn the Credit pass grade to represent the school and take part in sports. Such a system is practiced in the school and university system in the United States. Those who represent the United States in the Olympic Games or win medals are all either students in universities or graduates of universities. Sri Lanka athletes and sportspersons have the same capacity to be great in studies and sports if opportunities to learn and compete.

The choice is ours to motivate and give the opportunities to our sportspersons to excel in sports, studies and profession.

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Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

17 mins ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

18 mins ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;

Milan Rathnayake stars in HNB A’s 41 run win:

HNB ‘A’ 262/10 in 50 overs

[Janishka Perera 43, Anjala Bandara 54, Milan Rathnayake 71; Gimhan Mendis 2-43, Latheendra Akash 2-28, Himaru Deshan 2-42]

SLC Youth 221/10 in 44 overs [Rehan Peiris 77, Kithma Widnapathirana 53; Duvindu Ranathunga 2-40, Milan Rathnayake 3-24, Chamindu Wijesinghe 2-18]

Sports

Rumesh Tharanga among nominees announced for World Athlete of the Year 2026

Published

19 mins ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 20 nominees for the World Athlete of the Year honours have been announced ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco on 29 November.

The nominees – selected by an international panel of athletics experts – include 10 for Women’s World Athlete of the Year and 10 for Men’s World Athlete of the Year.

In what has been another sensational year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship and World Athletics Series events held throughout the year, as well as during various one-day meeting circuits, Label road races and other events around the world.

Nominees for 2026 Women’s World Athlete of the Year (in alphabetical order):

Tigest Assefa, Ethiopia

• Won the Berlin Marathon in 2:11:04, the third-fastest time in history

• Won the London Marathon in a women-only world record of 2:15:41

Chase Jackson, USA

• Twice improved the North American shot put record, to 21.02m and 21.14m

• Won the world indoor title and set a Diamond League record to regain the Diamond Trophy

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, USA

• Won a sprint double at the Ultimate Championship

• Set world leads of 10.62 in the 100m and 21.47 in the 200m, the latter putting her third on the world all-time list

Agnes Ngetich, Kenya

• Won the world half marathon title by 50 seconds in a women-only world record of 1:05:15 and won the world cross-country title by 42 seconds

• Ran world leads of 8:08.95 for 3000m and 28:58 for 10km

Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic

• Won the Ultimate 400m title and regained the Diamond League title

• Set a world lead and Diamond League record of 48.48 and remained unbeaten, running under 49 seconds in eight races

Maria Perez, Spain

• Set an inaugural world half marathon race walk record of 1:30:06

• Won the European title by 58 seconds with that world record performance

Camryn Rogers,Canada

• Improved her own North American hammer record with 81.13m, strengthening her place at second on the world all-time list

• Achieved the five best performances in the world and retained the Commonwealth Games title

Masai Russell, USA

• Set a world 100m hurdles record of 12.09 and achieved nine of the 10 fastest times of the season

• Won Ultimate and Diamond League titles as part of an unbeaten season in the 100m hurdles

Aubrey Werro, Switzerland

• Won Ultimate, Diamond League and European 800m titles

• Broke the Diamond League record three times, improving to a world lead of 1:53.70 – putting her third on the world all-time list

Yan Zivi, China

• Threw 71.74m on her season opener, an Asian and world U20 record that puts her second on the world javelin all-time list

• Won Diamond League and Asian Games titles

Nominees for 2026 Men’s World Athlete of the Year (in alphabetical order):

Kenneth Bednarek, USA

• Achieved a sprint double at the Ultimate Championship, winning the 100m in 9.85 and 200m in a world-leading PB of 19.52

• Won the Diamond League 200m title in 19.62

Kristian Ceh. Slovenia

• Won the Diamond League discus title with a Memorial van Damme meeting record of 71.29m

• Retained the European title with a championship record of 72.51m

Andy Diaz Hernandez, Italy

• Won world indoor, Diamond League and European triple jump titles

• Jumped 18.15m to move to fourth on the world all-time list

Allison dos Santos, Brazil

• Set a world 400m hurdles record of 45.80 and won the Ultimate title in 45.98, the third-fastest time in history

• Went undefeated in 11 hurdles races, including the Diamond League Final

Mondo Duplantis, Sweeden

• Improved his world pole vault record to 6.31m

• Won Ultimate, world indoor and European titles

Collen Kebinatshipi, Botswana

• Won the Ultimate 400m title in 43.39, putting him fifth on the world all-time list

• Won the Diamond League title and improved the Diamond League record three times, to a best of 43.40 – one of his six sub-44.00 races, a record for a single season

Josh Kerr, Great Britain and NI

• Set a world mile record of 3:42.66, achieving a world lead of 3:27.62 for his 1500m split

• Won Ultimate 1500m, world indoor 3000m, and Commonwealth Games mile titles

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage,Sri Lanka

• Won Ultimate, Diamond League, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games javelin titles

• Set a world-leading national record of 92.62m and won 13 of his 14 competitions

Sabastian Sawe, Kenya

• Won the London Marathon in a world record of 1:59:30

• Became the first man to break two hours in a record-eligible marathon

JaKobe Tarp, USA

• Set a world 110m hurdles record of 12.75 at the NCAA Championships

• Won Ultimate and Diamond League titles and broke 13 seconds in six races

An eight-strong panel of statisticians – two members from World Athletics and one from each of the six area associations – selected the nominees. A four-way vote, which closes on Saturday 17 October at midnight CEST, will now determine their final ranking, from first to 10th.

Each of the four voting groups will contribute 25% of the final vote:

• World Athletics fans voting

by survey available via the World Athletics app, website and social media channels

• Athletes

who have competed at World Athletics Series events during 2026

• Members of the media

including TV and radio commentators, written press journalists and content creators who have been accredited at World Athletics Series events in 2026

• World Athletics Family

including Council members; commission members; athlete representatives; World Athletics Series event local organising committee chairs; Diamond League, World Indoor Tour Gold and Continental Tour Gold meeting directors; member federation presidents; official partners; and World Athletics staff

The six finalists – three for the women’s World Athlete of the Year award and three for the men’s – will be announced on 10 and 11 November and be invited to Monaco for the World Athletics Awards on 29 November, when each winner will be announced live on stage.

Other awards presented on stage will include the men’s and women’s Rising Star honours, Coach of the Year, the President’s Award and, for the first time, the Moment of the Year award.

[World Athletics]