Another anxious wait for Nilani ahead of World Championships

by Reemus Fernando

With another outstanding solo run at the hastily arranged athletic event held at Diyagama over the weekend, Nilani Ratnayake has once again exhibited her prowess in the demanding endurance event of 3,000 metres steeplechase. But will the near record-breaking feat be enough for her to maintain her current position in the ‘Road to Oregon’ World Championship rankings before the qualifying period for the major athletics event expires this week?

With the qualifying period for the World Championships closing on Sunday Nilani will have an anxious wait to know whether she could win the rare honour of representing Sri Lanka in the women’s steeplechase in Oregon.

She is currently in the 38th position in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings.

The official results of the weekend’s competition show a notable time of 9:46.39 seconds against Nilani’s name in her pet event. Like in so many races this season, she remained unchallenged during the entire race. The only other athlete to compete against the national record holder finished more than three minutes after Ratnayake.

The Sri Lanka Army athlete has produced three outstanding performances this year. The first was the 9:47.47 seconds feat at the First Selection trial held in February. At the Centenary National Championships in April, Nilani broke her own national record with a feat of 9:40.24 seconds, a performance better than the bronze winning feat at the 2018 Asian Games. Her feat of 9:46.39 seconds at the weekend’s event was better than that of the silver medallist’s feat at the Asian Championships in Doha in 2019.

Two years ago, Nilani was one of the medal hopefuls at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha but her hopes shattered when she stumbled at the final barrier to settle for the fourth place. So much has happened during the last two years. She was the favourite to earn a place in the team to Tokyo Olympics last year but lack of quality competitions prevented her from improving her ranking and earning the rare honour.

Her coach Sajith Jayalal wanted to help Nilani accomplish that rare honour this year by earning the World Championship spot and made meticulous preparations. The only disappoint again was the lack of quality competitions where she would get some challenge to improve her personal best.

While almost all other top athletes including long jumper Sarangi Silva and Gayanthika Abeyratne received at least one competition opportunity abroad, Nilani was not lucky to get a top-grade competition to improve her rankings.

Despite the setback Nilani was still in the 38th position in the in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings yesterday.

The top 45 athletes in the ‘Road to Oregon’ rankings are selected for the women’s steeplechase.

While Sarangi Silva was ranked 32nd in the list for the women’s long jump (top 32 are selected), Gayanthika was in the 45th position (top 48 in the list are selected) in the list for the women’s 800 metres. It will be an anxious wait for all three female athletes.