by Reemus Fernando  

Undergrad Shashini Upeksha reached her personal best to join the 13 metres club in the women’s triple jump as she turned the tables on the favourite to win the title of the National Sports Festival at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Thursday.

The Wayamba University undergraduate cleared a distance of 13.05 metres in her final attempt to beat the Asian Championship participant Randi Himasha Cooray to second place. Cooray cleared a distance of 13.01 metres to settle for the silver.

Upeksha was the second runner-up at the recently held National Championships behind national record holder Vidusha Lakshani and Cooray. At the National Championships, the duo made jumps beyond 13 metres, while Upeksha’s best was 12.97 metres. While Lakshani did not compete yesterday, Cooray was the only opponent who was threatening her title aspirations.

It is also the first major title for the 25-year-old who has taken up the discipline seriously only three years ago. With Upeksha, Sri Lanka now has three active athletes who have cleared the 13 metres mark in the triple jump this season.Upeksha’s six jumps were measured at 12.75, 12.48, 12.60, 12.68, 12.73 and 13.05 metres.

“I once won the triple jump at school level but did not fully concentrate on the event until three years ago. I would like to thank my coach (Suresh Kumara) for extending all the support I needed. When I joined the university, he used to take all the trouble to make visits to Kuliyapitiya in the mornings for at least twice a week to observe my jumps before I left for the university. I would not have accomplished this if not for his support,” Upeksha told The Island. 

In the other events, Vinodani Lakmali and Nesarasa Daksitha established new meet records in the Women’s Discus Throw and Pole Vault respectively. Lakmali from North Central Province cleared a distance of 44.59 metres to bag the gold medal ahead of Western Province thrower Ishara Madurangi (42.72m) who was the only other athlete to clear the 40 metres mark in the women’s discus throw. Northerner Dakshitha cleared 3.5 metres to enter the record books in the pole vault.

Central Province runner Wathsala Herath won the gold in the 10,000 metres finishing in a time of 36 minutes and 10.2 seconds, while Lanka Ariyadasa from Sabaragamuwa finished second some 26 seconds later.

Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe produced probably the best performance of the day in the men’s category, though he managed only a throw of 77.23 metres for gold. Former St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya athlete Rumesh Tharanga won the silver with a feat of 76.45 metres.

While Hemantha Kumara clocked 14:48.95 seconds to win the men’s 5,000 metres for Western Province, Southern Province anchored by former national record holder Vinoj Suranjaya won the men’s 4×100 metres in a time of 41.4 seconds.

Western Province suffered disappointment when a dropped baton cost them a probable medal in the women’s 4×100 metres relay, which was won by Southern Province. The team was anchored to victory by Asian Championship gold medalist Nadeesha Ramanayake. They clocked 48.5 seconds to win.

 Results: 

Women’s 10,000m: 1. G.Wathsala Herath of CP 36:10.2 secs, 2. Lanka Ariyadasa of SGP 36:34.4 secs, 3. Nimesha Nidharshani of UP 37:59.6 secs.

Women’s Pole Vault:

1. Nesarasa Daksitha of NP 3.5m, 2. U.T. Wickramasekara of WP 3.2 m, 3. K.A.C.K. Kodithuwakku of CP 3.00m.    

Women’s Discus Throw:

1. A.G. Vinodani Lakmali of NCP 44.59 m, 2. P.A. Ishara Madurangi of WP 42.72m, 3. A.M. Chanuka Athapaththu of WP 37.33m. 

Women’s Triple Jump:

1. E.M. Shashini Upeksha of WP 13.05 metres, 2. Randi Himasha Cooray of WP 13.01m, 3. G.I.S. Lankathilaka of NWP 12.49m. 

Women’s 4x100m Relay:

1. Southern Province 48.54 secs, 2. North Western Province 48.56 secs, 3. Sabaragamuwa Province 48.95 secs. 

Men’s 5000m:

1. D. Hemantha Kumara of WP 14:48.95 secs, 2. D.M.D.S. Dissanayake of NCP 15:14.12 secs, 3. W.A. Tharindu Danushka of UP 15:20.70 secs. 

Men’s Javelin Throw:

1. Sumeda Ransinghe of SGP 77.23 m. 2. Rumesh Tharanga of WP 76.45m, 3. D.S. Ranasinghe of SP 71.80m. 

Men’s 4×100 m Relay:

1. Southern Province 41.4 secs, 2. North Western Province 41.5 secs, 3. Uva Province 41.9 secs.