Dharshana, Dilshi among top athletes to create new meet records

Sprinter Aruna Dharshana registered the second fastest time by a Sri Lankan in the men’s 200 metres and Dilshi Kumarasinghe returned to winning ways as they created new meet record marks on day two of the 58th Army Athletics Championships at Diyagama on Thursday. Dharshana who had to face disappointment after being disqualified for a foul start at the same venue at the first selection trial 10 days ago, overcame the disappointment yesterday when he clocked 20.65 seconds to win the men’s 200 metres.

His blazing performance is now second only to Yupun Abeykoon’s national record performance of 20.37 seconds in the men’s 200 metres. Dharshana’s feat is now the fastest by a Sri Lankan on home soil as he overtook Vinoj Suranjaya’s 20.68 seconds feat of 2018.

Kumarasinghe established the meet record when she returned a time of 2:04.89 seconds to win the women’s 800 metres.  Nilani Ratnayake gave the second day an exciting start as she clocked 9:55.20 seconds to win the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase in a new meet record performance.

H.S.E. Janith meanwhile created a new national record with a feat of 5.16 metres in the men’s pole vault.    In the men’s and women’s 10,000 metres race walking events P.H.S.L. Fernando and U.V.K. Madirika established national records. Fernando returned a time of 45:12.22 seconds to win his event while Madirika clocked 49:25.97 seconds for her victory.

(RF)