Spotlight falls on U18 category as athletes eye Commonwealth Youth Games

Junior National Athletics Championships 2023

By Reemus Fernando

With the team selections for the Asian Junior Athletics Championships almost done, spotlight will fall on the Under 18 age category once again as the Junior National Athletics Championships starting on Sunday will be the final trial for this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games.

A couple of athletes have almost secured their places in the team for the Commonwealth Youth Games after producing outstanding performances at the Asian Youth Championships held in Uzbekistan last week.

Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Ayomal Akalanka and Maris Stella College pole vaulter Thushen Silva are on the top of the list of selectors as their medal-winning feats had elevated them to number four and seventh positions in the World Athletics top lists for the season in their respective events.

Akalanka won the bronze medal in the 400 metres hurdles in Uzbekistan with a feat of 51.40 seconds and Silva cleared a height of 4.70 metres to win silver in the pole vault.

Vijitha Central Dickwella high jumper Nilupul Pehesara, who won a silver medal and Wickramabahu National School, Gampola athlete Nirmali Wickramasinghe, who clinched bronze in the 800 metres will join fellow Asian Youth Championship participants, Lesandhu Arthavidhu, Dulanjana Wickramasinghe, Jathya Kirula and Thushen Malindaratne as favourites in their respective disciplines.

With many vying to achieve qualifying standards for the event taking place in Trinidad and Tobago meet records in a number of disciplines in the Under 18 age category are expected fall.

Sri Lanka Athletics has received over 2000 entries for the Junior National Championships. This is despite a significant increase in entry fees. As usual sprint events have attracted the highest number of participants. The Under 16 boys’ 400 metres has attracted 127, the highest number of participants for a single discipline this year.

The huge number of entries have also forced officials to arrange heats for some events which are usually conducted in straight finals. The Under 18 boys 2,000 metres steeplechase will see heats being conducted as the event has attracted 35 participants.