Merone anchors relay team to create new national junior record in Dubai relay team to create new national junior record in Dubai

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka’s junior relay quartet shattered the ten year old 4×100 metres national junior record as they qualified for the finals of the men’s 4×100 metres on day three of the Asian Junior Athletics Championship in Dubai on Friday.

The team anchored by Ananda College sprinter Merone Wijesinghe clocked  40.32 seconds to finish second behind China in the relay heats held in the morning. Sri Lanka will carry the third fastest time from the two heats to the final which will be held on Saturday.

While China clocked 40.01 seconds to win the first heat, Hong Kong won the second heat in a time of 40.29 seconds. India finished second in that heat with a time of 40.43 seconds.

The others in the record breaking relay team were Malith Koushan, Dineth Induwara and Indusara Vidushan.

They broke the record held by Arosha Kariyawasam, Suranjaya de Silva, D.K.M.N. Sachinthana and Himasha Eshan who clocked 40.37 second at the Asian Junior Championships in Taipei in 2014.

Meanwhile, Madushani Herath, who won the triple jump silver medal on day one finished eighth in the long jump with a feat of 5.78 metres.

Wijesinghe featured in the men’s 100 metres final and achieved his personal best to be placed fifth. He clocked 10.54 seconds.

When this edition went to press Commonwealth Youth Games medallist Ayomal Akalanka and young Tharushi Abisheka were scheduled to compete in the 400 m hurdles and 800 metres finals in the evening yesterday.