High Jumpers bamboozled by spike length ruling
Young high jumpers had to go through agony during the under 20 high jump from an instruction mix up of officials that finally resulted disadvantages for jumpers. This having taken place and the AASL agreed to a second chance having them compete in the high jump at the trials for the seniors on 27th before finalizing the team for the South Asian Junior and Asian Junior Championship.
According to the rules the maximum length of the spike should have to be 6mm for runners. However it’s not relevant for jumpers and throwers as thickness of jumping and throwing areas are higher than in a running area on the track. But Sugathadasa security officers were very tough regarding the specifications where none of them allowed athletes with spikes which were above 6mm long on to the ground to participate in the event.
Under 20 high jumpers became victims of these Draconian rules not allowing them use size 9mm and 12mm spikes inside the stadium and being forced to jump with 6mm nails. Several athletes were hurt and injured due to using the 6mm nails for jumping which resulted in halting the event for more than half an hour on one occasion.
After athletes pointed out arguing on facts later they were allowed to use size 9mm and 12mm nails but it was too late as event performances were not up to standard. Winner of the event Laksamudra Mendis from St. Aloysius College Galle was taken back on a stretcher by the medical staff when he injured his leg using smaller nails for jumps and it seems that he will be out from the Junior South Asian Games to be held from 5-6May at the same venue.
The event saw many talented jumpers, including Gateway high jumper Shenuka Kasthuriarachchi who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Youth Championship last year, falling short of their usual performance as none of the jumpers cleared more than 2.00m
With the Under 20 high jump selection trials for South Asian Junior and Asian Junior Athletics Championship AASL ending in such a chaotic manner later it was decided to let those jumpers to compete in the high jump in the Senior Trials on the 27th at the same venue before finalizing the SL team.
