Nimali beats Gayanthika to make winning start

by Reemus Fernando

Olympian Nimali Liyanarachchi turned tables on former national record holder Gayanthika Abeyratne to win the women’s 800 metres on day one of the First National Trial at Diyagama on Friday.

Competing in the absence of Asian Games medallist Tharushi Karunaratne, the veterans from Sooriyawewa fought shoulder to shoulder in the second lap before Liyanarachchi shifted gears in the homestretch to win in a time of two minutes and 5.46 seconds. Asian Games participant Abeyratne finished second in a time of 2:06.12 seconds. Shanika Lakshani finished third (2:07.98) while, emerging school girl  Tharushi Abisheka clocked her personal best (2:09.16) competing alongside the seniors.

In an Olympic year, Nimali’s performance will augur well for the discipline as her return will make it a three-way battle for supremacy. In the women’s 200 metres Rumeshika Ratnayake was the winner as she clocked 23.97 seconds. She was the only athlete to clock sub 24 seconds.

In the corresponding men’s event, Aruna Dharshana stopped the clock at 21.03 seconds to win.In the men’s long jump Gayan Sampath turned tables on Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri to win with a feat of 7.34 metres.

National record holder Ishara Sandaruwan was the lone competitor at 4.70 metres in the men’s pole vault, while Samitha Jayawardena was the only athlete to clear 15 metres (15.24m) in the shot put.

In the absence of national record holder Sarangi Silva, Nishadi Abeyratne’s feat of 5.98 metres won her the first place in the women’s long jump. Incidentally, in the Under 20 girls long jump, Nannapurawa athlete Madushani Herath cleared a distance of six metres to win.