Selection Trial solace for competition-starved athletes

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka’s top track and field athletes will find solace in the opportunity to compete at the first Selection Trial starting at the Sugathadasa Stadium today in the absence of international competitions.

The cancelation of the Asian Athletics Championship which was scheduled for May was a severe blow to local athletes striving to achieve entry standards for the postponed Tokyo Olympics. Going abroad for other available regional international competitions has also become difficult due to Covid 19 health restrictions.

The Sri Lanka Athletics has also decided not to send a team for the World Athletics Relays, one of the major international competitions, despite interest shown by the organisers. On this backdrop local athletes will take the opportunity to measure their progress at the first competition of the year.

The Selection Trial will be a launching pad for athletes targeting peak performances at the National Championship which will be held ahead of Olympics.

It will also be an opportunity to earn ranking points and get closer to qualifying standards for Olympics.

Sri Lanka Athletics is also conducting trials for selected number of junior events providing much needed competition exposure for school athletes who have been without national level competitions for more than a year now. Forming a junior pool is also on the cards.

Men’s and women’s 100m metres and 400 metres are the top track attractions on the first day of the three-day competition. While men’s javelin throw and men’s and women’s long jump are the top field events scheduled for the opening day.

The 400 metres sprinters Kalinga Kumarage and Aruna Dharshana, 100 metres specialists Himasha Eshan, Chanuka Sandeepa and Vinoj Suranjaya are all listed to take starters orders.

In the women’s category Nadeesha Ramanayake and Dilshi Kumarasinghe are expected to blaze the track in the 400 metres. Amasha de Silva who produced an outstanding performance at the last National Championship is expected to meet stiff competition from Shelinda Jansen and former champion Rumeshika Ratnayake in the women’s 100 metres.

In field events, men’s javelin throw is set to witness a close competition with Olympian Sumeda Ranasinghe competing against former national record holder Waruna Dayaratne. Both will be eager to improve on their rankings.

An interesting battle looms between Sarangi Silva and Anjani Pulwansa in the women’s long jump. Both cleared the six metres barrier few months ago.

Shreshan Dananjaya was the winner of the men’s long jump at the last Nationals. He will be up against a host of others including former national champion Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri who is making a return.

Athletics enthusiasts will also be eager to witness the performances of steeplechase athlete Nilani Ratnayake, who has almost secured her ticket to Tokyo. She is expected compete in both the steeplechase and the 1,500 metres.