Amasha dazzles with personal best to win 100 metres

98th National Athletics Championships- Day III

by Reemus Fernando

Sprinter Amasha de Silva established herself as one of the top Sri Lankan sprinters to have ever run yesterday as she returned a time of 11.55 seconds to win the women’s 100 metres title at the 98th National Athletics Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

While Himasha Eshan retained his title in the men’s 100 metres with a wind assisted 10.49 seconds dash, the former Swarnamali Balika athlete, who is now running for Sri Lanka Army clocked her personal best and her best time since 2018 to take a top place in the list of all time best female sprinters.

The athlete coached and mentored by Sanjeewa Weerakkody had 11.71 seconds, achieved at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships in 2018, as her personal best until she mashed it yesterday. In the heats she clocked 11.64 seconds.

Defending champion of the 100 metres Lakshika Sugandi was placed fourth behind Rumeshika Ratnayake (second- 11.88 secs) and Fathima Shafiya Yamick (third- 12.05 secs).

Former Maris Stella College sprinter Chanuka Sandeepa was the runner up to Himasha as he clocked an impressive 10.49 seconds. Former champion Vinoj Suranjaya had the consolation of the bronze medal retuning a time of 10.50 seconds.

Olympian Nadeeka Lakmali hurled the javelin to a distance of 53.97 metres to win gold, while Hashini Balasooriya cleared 13.07 metres for triple jump gold.

Men’s 10,000 metres had a new winner in A.K. Tharanga. The Air Force runner returned a time of 30:42.15 seconds. The men’s pole vault too had a new champion in S.E. Janith.

RESULTS

Men’s

100m:

1. Himasha Eshan (SL Army) 10.27 secs, 2. B.D. Chanuka Sandeepa ( SL Army) 10.49 secs, 3. M. Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva (SL Army) 10.50 secs.

10,000m:

1. A.K. Tharanga (SL Air Force) 30:42.15 secs, 2. K Shanmugeswaran (SL Army)31:07.53 secs, 3. H.D.S.D. Gunasekara (SL Army) 31:16.67 secs.

400m Hurdles:

1. A.L.A.T. Rathnasena (SL Army) 52.09 secs, 2. J.L. Prasanjith (SL Army) 53.22 secs, 3. A.L.A.I. Rathnasena (SL Air Force) 53.23 secs.

Pole Vault:

1. H.S.E. Janith (SL Army) 4.70m, 2. D.H.G.S. Jayantha (SL Army) 4.30m, 3. R.P. Murugayya (SL Army) 4.30m.

High Jump:

1. K.C.L. Mendis (SL Army) 2.10m, 2. P. Sanju Tharuka (SL Schools) 2.05m, 3. S. Roshen Dulmith (SL Schools) 2.00m.

Women’s

100m:

1. D.T. Amasha De Silva (SL Army) 11.55 secs, 2. R.M. Rumeshika Ratnayake (Kegalle DAA) 11.88 secs, 3. Fathima Shafiya Yamick (SL Army) 12.05 secs .

400m Hurdles: 1. G.A.S. Dulani (SL Army) 1:02.90 secs, 2. T.G.N.D. Wickramasinghe (SL Army) 1:03.22 secs, 3. A.P.M. Subhani Aberatne (SL Army) 1:07.00 secs.

Triple Jump:

1. B.M.H.P. Balasooriya (SL Army) 13.07m, 2. D.G. Rashmi Nirodha (SL Army) 12.63m, 3. K.A.T. Lakshani (SL Air Force) 12.06m.

Shot Put: 1. W.T.K. Fernando (SL Air Force) 14.10m, 2. M.N.D. Muthunayake (SL Navy) 12.70m, 3. P.A. Priyangika Kumari (SL Police) 11.53m.

Javelin:

1. BL Nadeeka Lakmali (SL Army) 53.97m, 2. H.L.N.D. Lekamge (SL Army) 48.99m, 3. H.P.D.H. Maduwanthi (SL Air Force) 45.80m.