Youth athletes end competition drought with notable feats

by Reemus Fernando

Youth athletes ended a two-year long competition drought producing notable feats at the Youth Selection Trial conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics at the Sugathadasa Stadium over the weekend.

A remarkable 5.73 metres long jump feat from little known Nannapurawa MV, Moneragala, athlete Madushani Herath, a stunning 17.74 metres throw in the shot put by Jayavi Ranhinda of Royal College, Panadura, 2:14.45 seconds finish in the girls’ 800 metres by Nirmali Wickramasinghe of Wickramabahu MV, Gampola and a host of impressive sprint finishes highlighted that all was not lost due to the absence of competitions during the last two years for youth athletes.

In sprint events, Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala sprinters Avishka Theminda and Maheema Pravindi registered the 400 metres victories. Pravindi who was also the winner of the 200 metres on Saturday, returned a time of 58.43 seconds to win, while Nirmali Wickramasinghe, the winner of the 800 metres and Shehara Karunaratne of Lyceum Wattala clocked sub 60 seconds. Theminda stopped the clock at 50.45 seconds to win the boys’ event.

In a closely contested girls’ 100 metres final three clocked sub 13 seconds. Colombo International School, Kandy sprinter Seneka Guneratne pipped Dhanani Kodithuwakku and Ruwansa Weerakkody to the second and third places as she clocked 12.66 seconds.

Mahinda College sprinter Ayesh Mihiranga proved that he is an athlete to be reckoned with when he overcame a disastrous start to be placed second in the 200 metres. On Sunday he made sure that he take a solid start to clock 10.94 seconds to win the 100 metres.

Competing in the boys’ shot put on Saturday, Ranhinda was on a zone of his own as all his throws landed well beyond the reach of others. Of his six throws five were measured over 17 metres. The next best was St. Joseph’s thrower D.I. White’s 12.98 metres.

Madushani Herath was the clear favourite for victory in the girls’ long jump as she made clean take offs against several failures by Dananjana Sithmini of Lyceum Wattala. The latter made a 5.60 metres in her fifth attempt but Herath pipped her to the second place with a leap of 5.73 metres in the final attempt.

On Sunday she further improved her profile with a feat of 11.77 metres in the triple jump.

Nirmali Wickramasinghe of Wickramabahu MV, Gampola added herself to the list of emerging 800 metres runners with a 2:14.45 seconds finish.

The two-day athletics event was the first competition for athletes in the youth category since 2019.

Sri Lanka Athletics conducted the two-day event as a precursor to next year’s Youth Selection Trial for Asian Youth Athletics Championship.