Jaffna’s Vaulting queen shatters SL record for third time
Jaffna’s vaulting queen Anitha Jagatheshwaran once again renewed her Sri Lanka record in the women’s pole vault for the third time clearing a height of 3.45m on the first day of the National Athletics trials continued at Diyagama yesterday.
Anitha who is soon expected to be an undergraduate of the Sabaragamuwa University, last eclipsed the Sri Lanka record in her home town at last year’s National Sports Festival with 3.41m, while equaling that record in Kandy during the all island school’s games.
“It will be hard to do training and studying in Sabaragamuwa, especially with lack of facilities and coaches to do the pole vault there,” said Anitha about her growing concern after the record breaking performance. But just a few minutes later she took the bus to return to Jaffna which will be a whole night’s journey for her and her coach Subash.
In the men’s pole vault SAG record holder Ishara Sandaruwan cleared 4.90m to win the event, while Hasith Nirmal returned a good time of 14.51 seconds to win the 110m hurdles.
Meanwhile, in other events, sprinter Rumeshika Rathnayake made a good start for the year clocking 24.12 seconds to win the 200m, while Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva won the men’s event with ease in 21.26 seconds.
Ridma Nishadi, the 18 year old hailing from Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, impressed in the morning with a leap of 6.08m in the women’s long jump to win the event over many of her seniors.
The men’s long jump saw close competition where Dhanuka Liyanapathirana emerged victorious with 7.74m leap beating Mohammad Mifran who was placed second with 7.73m.
Today will be the last day of the trials.
Results:
Men
5000m: 1. A.K. Tharanga 14:51.20 sec, 2. D.S. Dissanayake 14:59.67 sec, 3. R.S. Wijewickrama 15:00.72 sec
Pole Vault: 1. Ishara Sandaruwan 4.90m, 2. AC Fernando 4.50m, 3. Chinthaka Dinesh 4.40m
Shot Put: 1. Samitha Jayawardana 15.55m, 2. Joy Danushka Perera 15.45m, 3. S.Jayakodi 14.54m
Discus Throw: 1. U.P. Jayawardana 51.36m, 2. T.M. Asik 42.10m, 3. M.S. Niroshima (Police SC) 41.80m
200m: 1. Suranjaya de Silva 21.26 sec, 2. S.S. Kumara 21.76 sec, 3. Chamod viduranga 21.93 sec
110m hurdle: 1. Hasith Nirmal 14.54 sec, 2. S.S Amarathunga 14.63 sec, 3. Hasitha Kumara 14.95 sec
Long Jump : 1. Dhanuka Liyanapathirana 7.74m, 2. T.M. Mifran 7.73m, 3. Greshan Dhananjaya 7.72m
Women
10,000m: 1. Nilani Ariyadasa 36:43.82 sec, 2. S.D. Liyanage 38:11.91 sec, 3. V.Krishanthi 38:35.08 sec
Long Jump: 1. Ridma Abeyrathna 6.08m, 2. Anjani Pulawansha 5.75m, 3. A.D. Danajani 5.71m
Dicsus Throw: 1. Ayesha Maduwanthi 40.94m, 2. S.K. Weerasekara 34.26m, 3. E.P. Nilmini 33.25m
Javelin Throw: 1. Dilhani Lekamge 51.53m, 2. D.H. Maduwanthi 45.90m,
3. M.P. de Silva 444.70m
200m: 1. Rumeshika Rathnayake 24.21 sec, 2. Nirmali Madushika 24.51sec, Shivanthi Jayathilaka 25.16 sec
100m hurdle: 1. Lakshika Sugandhi 14.78 sec, 2. D.P. Mohottala 15.28 sec,
3. W.K. Hapuarachchi 15.44 sec
Pole Vault: 1. Anitha Jagatheswaran 3.45m, 2. Pramodha Dilrukshi 3.45m,
3. S.D. Banasinghe 3.10m
