Kaushalya breaks national record, Thrushi wins senior 400 metres title

Sri Lanka Army athlete Kaushalya Perera lowered the women’s national pole vault record with a feat of 3.65 metres on day one of the Sri Lanka Athletics conducted 1st Selection Trial at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Thursday.

Perera improved on her own record which she established at the same venue in November. A former gymnast, Perera had cleared 3.60 metres in November.

On a day notable for the absence of several senior national athletes, Ratnayake Central middle distance runner Tharushi Karunaratne bagged the top honour of winning the women’s 400 metres in a time of 56.17 seconds. Instead of running in the junior category she was competing in the senior event. In the heats she returned a faster 55.73 seconds feat. Her senior training partner, Dilshi Kumarasinghe and 400 metres specialist Nadeesha Ramanayake were not competing yesterday due to injury.

In the corresponding men’s event Kalinga Kumarage (47.00 secs) was the winner as he finished ahead of Pabasara Niku. But both failed to clock sub 47 seconds. Aruna Dharshana, a leading contender for the title did not take part.

In the junior boys’ 400 metres Sithum Jayasundara was hardly challenged as he eased to a 48.24 seconds finish ahead of D.M. Dharshana who clocked 49.05 seconds.

There was a strong field in the women’s 100 metres with Amasha de Silva, Shelinda Jansen and Rumeshika Ratnayake making a final appearance. While de Silva retained her top position winning in a time of 10.63 seconds, Ratnayake settled for the second place in a time of 10.68 seconds and .Shafiya Yamick clocked 11.82 seconds to finish third. Jansen finished fifth behind Lakshika Sugandi.

The junior girls’ 100 metres final too witnessed an impressive finish with Lyceum sprinter Dulyana Suludagoda stopping the clock in 12.19 seconds in a wind assisted effort. Bandara Dela (12.23 secs) of Gateway and Sashika Sandepani (12.57 secs) of Visakha Balika, Makola finished second and third respectively.

The junior boys’ 100 metres was won by Mahinda College, Galle sprinter Ayesh Mihiranga (10.91 secs). Hirusha Hashen of Track Masters and Pasindu Gunawardena of Gateway finished second and third respectively.

With top sprinter Himasha Eshan serving a ban and national record holder Yupun Abeykoon based in Italy, the stage was set for a new champion to emerge in the men’s 100 metres. Chamod Yodhasinghe took the opportunity winning in a time of 10.53 seconds. C. S. Dharmakerthi and Yodhasinghe both returned 10.53 seconds and were separated by a photo finish analysis.

While Dilhani Lekamge won the women’s javelin throw with a feat of 63.66 metres, Chamini Herath (women’s 10,000 m), Dhanushka Sandaruwan (men’s 5,000metres), Samith Fernando (men’s shot put) and Sanjaya Bandara (men’s hammer throw) were the winners of their respective pet events held in the morning sessions.