Tharanga shatters National Junior record at World Junior Championships

Joe-Pete duo Tharanga, Malshan advance to final round with personal best feats 

Triple jumper Pasindu Malshan and javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga produced their personal best performances to advance to the final round in their respective events, while hurdler Dhanuka Dharshana came up with another top performance before bowing out of the World Junior Athletics Championships in Cali, Colombia on Thursday.

St. Peter’s College thrower Tharanga proved his coach Tony Prasanna right when he cleared a distance over 70 metres at the world event to qualify for the final round. A couple of months ago, Tharanga was yet to break the 70 metres barrier when Tony Prasanna said in an interview with The Island that it was a matter of time before his charge cleared the 70 metres mark. “The World Junior Athletics Championship would be the ideal place to accomplish that,” he said.

His best throw in the qualifying round cleared a distance of 70.68 metres and another throw also landed beyond the 70 metres mark. He also had a throw of 69.47 metres in the qualifying round.

With his 70.68 metres performance Tharanga shattered his own National Junior record. It was the second time that he bettered the National Junior record this year. Tharanga has been holding the National Junior record since last year.

In the triple jump qualifying round, St. Joseph’s College Darley Road athlete Malshan cleared a distance of 15.73 metres to qualify for the final round. He also had a jump of 15.65 metres in that round.

Both Malshan and Tharanga were scheduled to compete in their final round events later in the evening yesterday (Saturday morning SL time).

Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Dhanuka Dharshana who broke the National Junior record in the qualifying round of heats in the 400 metres hurdles a couple of days ago, produced another outstanding performance in the semis. He was eliminated in the semi-finals but clocked 51.59 seconds, which was the second fastest performance by a Sri Lankan of his age.

Despite the disappointments the athletes had to face in the run up to the World Junior Championships, Sri Lanka’s junior athletes have produced relatively better performances than many of their predecessors with four athletes advancing from their first-round competitions and at least three producing personal best feats including new national junior marks.

The team of seven athletes had to remain uncertain about their journey to Cali, Colombia until the eleventh hour, and after authorities intervened to make the trip happen they had to leave in two batches.  St. Peter’s College long jumper Hirusha Hashen and Ratnayake Central runner Tharushi Karunaratne missed their pet events after arriving late in Cali due to a flight delay.