National Sports Festival

by Reemus Fernando

Hurdler Janindu Lakvijaya shattered a nearly three decades old 110 metres hurdles meet record and Olympian Nadeeka Lakmali brought the curtain down on her more than two decade old career with the javelin gold as the athletics championship of the National Sports Festival continued at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

National record holder Lakvijaya clocked 14.18 seconds (wind reading – 2.8) in the men’s 110 metres hurdles heats to erase the meet record held by former champion Chaminda Fonseka. Fonseka’s meet record of 14.28 seconds had remained untouched since 1994.

The athlete trained by Asoka Jayasundara is expected to improve the record again when the final is held on Saturday.

The women’s javelin throw attracted attention as the games’ record holder Nadeeka Lakmali was making her final appearance. The Olympian, who held the national record for more than 15 years until Dilhani Lekamge shattered it at the recently held Asian Athletics Championships, had announced that the ongoing Sports Festival meet would be her last competition.

She came up with a throw of 51.84 metres to win the title for the 14th time at this meet. She retires as the record holder of these championships. Lakmali established the current games record of 58.52 metres in 2015.

Olympian Nadeeka Lakmali brought the curtain down on her glittering career after winning the gold medal at the National Sports Festival.

Results

Men’s 800m: 1.

Rusiru Chathuranga of Southern Province 1:54.25 secs, 2. R.I.P. Pushpakumara of Southern Province 1:54.87 secs, 3. C. Aravindan of Uva Province 1:54.8 secs.

Men’s Long Jump: 1.

J.H. Gayan Sampath of Uva Province 7.74m, 2. D.A.G.J.P. Wimalasiri of Central Province 7.71m, 3. W.H.H.M. Abeysekara of Southern Province 7.63m.

Men’s Hammer Throw: 1.

W.G.S.R. Kumarasiri of North Central Province 46.97m, 2. K.K.D.M. Dharmasena of Sabaragamuwa Province 46.13m, 3. M.D.R.S. Kumara of Southern Province 42.88m.

Men’s Pole Vault: 1

Ishara Sandaruwan of Western Province 5.00m, 2. H.S.E. Janith of Western Province 4.90m, 3. A. Puvitharan of Northern Province 4.80m.

Men’s 200m: 1.

Isuru Lakshan of North Western Province 21.19secs, 2. A.S.M. Safan of North Western Province 21.54 secs, 3. T.B. Udagedara of Southern Province 21.58 secs.

Men’s 400m Hurdles: 1.

Dhanuka Dharshana of Central Province 50.59secs, 2. A.L.A.I. Rathnasena of Sabaragamuwa Province 52.11 secs, 3. A.L.A.T. Rathnasena 53.00 secs.

Men’s Discus Throw: 1.

S.M.A.D. Saparamadu of Western Province 47.32 m, 2. D.B. Rathnayake of Central Province 44.96m, 3. Z.T.M. Aazik of Eastern Province 44.94m.

Men’s High Jump: 1.

B.R.I.U. Kumara of Southern Province 2.13m, 2. Roshen Dulmin of North Western Province 2.11m, 3. Tharuka Fernando of North Western Province 2.09m.

Women’s 800m: 1.

Gayanthika Abeyratne of Southern Province 2:04.53 secs, 2. Nimali Liyanarachchi of Southern Province 2:04.88 secs, 3. Shanika Lakshani of Western Province 2:07.64 secs.

Women’s Javelin Throw: 1.

Nadeeka Lakmali of Southern Province 51.84m, 2. H.P.D.H. Maduwanthi of Uva Province 50.39m, 3. D.M.I. Hasanthi of Eastern Province 42.89 m.

Women’s Shot Put: 1.

O.T. Chandrasekara of Western Province 13.69m, 2. W.T.K. Fernando of Western Province 13.39m, 3. P.A.P. Kumari of Southern Province 12.15m.

Women’s 200m: 1.

Nadeesha Ramanayake of Southern Province 24.39 secs, 2. Safiya Yamic of Central Prvovince 24.42 secs, 3. M.H.J. Uththara of Western Province 24.76 secs.

Women’s 400m Hurdles: 1.

N.D.G.N. Lakmali of Southern Province 61.03 secs, 2. K.H.A.D. Kaushalya of Central Province 61.65 secs, 3. W.H.M. Fernando of North Western Province 62.49 secs.

Women’s Long Jump: 1.

Sarangi Silva of Western Province 6.34m, 2. Anjani Pulwansa of Western Province 5.96m, 3. M.V.L. Sugandi of Western Province 5.75m.