Juniors turn tables on seniors at Asian Games Selection Trial 

by Reemus Fernando  

School athletes Tharushi Karunaratne, Jayeshi Uththara and Sithum Jayasundara reached World Junior Championship qualifying standards in the 400 metres and turned tables on seniors while Olympian Sumeda Ranasinghe proved beyond doubt that he has regained lost form with a formidable throw on day one of the Asian Games trials held at the newly laid synthetic track at Diyagama on Thursday. 

Ratnayake Central runner Karunaratne turned tables on national champion Nadeesha Ramanayake to win the women’s 400 metres in a time of 54.29 seconds. After having produced the fastest time in the heats (54.36 seconds)to qualify for the World Junior Championships, Karunaratne was expected to challenge national champion Ramanayake and her senior training partner Dilshi Kumarasinghe who were returning to competition after skipping the first selection trail in February. Karunaratne did just that dominating the final from the second 100 metres but she only had Ramanayake for company as Kumarasinghe skipped the final. Holy Cross College, Gampaha athlete Jayeshi Uththara who finished third clocked 55.19 seconds and became eligible for the World Junior Championships to be held in Cali, Colombia in August.

Jayasundara reached the qualifying mark when he clocked 47.39 seconds, the fastest time in the men’s 400 metres heats and improved on that in the final with a 47.33 seconds finish. However, Aruna Dharshana, the favourite, remained unchallenged as he produced a sub 47 seconds performance (46.37 secs) to win.

Incidentally, both Karunaratne and Jayasundara who qualified for the World Junior event were also members of the country’s team at the event’s last edition in 2021.

They were not the only junior athletes to turn tables on seniors at this senior event as Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya high jumper Ranindi Gamage achieved her personal best to win the women’s high jump. Gamage, who is in her first year in the Under 20 age category, cleared a height of 1.68 metres to win ahead of M. Madushani of Air Force who managed to clear a height of 1.61 metres.

On a day notable for sprinters’ struggles on the new synthetic track, men’s javelin national record holder Sumeda Ranasinghe was the only senior athlete go beyond the set qualifying standards for the Asian Games as he cleared a distance of 81.79 metres to win the men’s javelin. Sri Lanka Athletics had set a minimum standard of 80.75 metres (the average bronze winning standard of the last three Asian Games) and Sumeda achieved it in his fourth throw.

In another positive note in field events, Chamal Kumarasiri reached his personal best in winning the men’s triple jump. With (+2) wind on his back the Army athlete cleared 16.29 metres to win. The triple jump national record holder Shreshan Dananjaya did not take part in the competition.

The men’s and women’s 100 metres lacked the speed they generated at the first selection trial at the Sugathadasa Stadium last month. With sprinter Himasha Eshan provisionally suspended for a doping violation, Chamod Yodhasinghe took it on his shoulders to keep the glamour event interested. He touched sub 10.60 seconds in the heats before settling for a time of 10.65 seconds to win the final.

The women’s 100 metres saw former champion Rumeshika Ratnayake edging out Amasha de Silva in a photofinish to win in 10.84 seconds.

In the absence of national record holder Sarangi Silva, Anjani Pulwansa claimed the women’s long jump victory. However, no athlete could clear the six metres mark. Pulwansa cleared 5.98 metres to win.