Aruna stuns Kalinga and Co in jaw dropping 400m finals

The Junior Star Aruna Darshana lived up to expectations, as he turned tables on the seniors to win the National title in the 400m, at the 96th National Athletic Championship at Sugathadasa Stadium on saturday (5th) .

After many years this was a jaw dropping 400m final that took place in Sri Lanka, with six athletes who had broken the 47 second barrier taking part. The race which was worked off at 9.20 had reasonable number of spectators who came to see the new poster boy of Sri Lanka athletics, Aruna Darshana taking on the seniors.

Aruna, who won a gold medal with run of 45.78 seconds, at the Asian Junior Championship, set a new championship record in Japan running the fourth best Sri Lankan time ever and its best since 2006.  Aruna also competed in the World Junior Championship semi-finalsWhere, there were expectations in the arena for him to win the senior race. This, despite the seasoned runner Kalinga Kumarage looking like the favorite to win with all his experience behind him.

Kalinga, the fastest athlete out of seniors this year with a 46.08 seconds under his belt, took off like a rocket leading the race. Aruna was running from the inner lane and had advantage of judging Kalinga from behind. It was Kalinga who led the race coming off the second bend with a 31 second 300m, where Aruna ran a tailor made race in hand. It was Aruna’s endurance plus the sprinting ability of the final 200m, which came to help him in the last 100m as he overtook Kalinga clocking 46.16 seconds, his second best time and fastest time in Sri Lanka.

Ajith Premakumara just managed to hold off Aruna’s junior team mate and Asian junior 400m Silver medalist Pasindu Kodikara to third place. Incidentally the defending champion Dilip Ruwan finished in fifth place.

These five athletes will now represent Sri Lanka in the Asian Games and run the 4x400m where Sri Lanka is one of the favorites to finish on the podium.

 

Nadeesha dejects Nirmali in 400m

Meanwhile, Nadeesha Ramanayaka won the girls 400m with a personal best of 53.30 seconds and Nirmali Madushika who ran a personal best on Friday finished second with 53.89 seconds while the defending national champion Upamalika Rathnakumari finished third with 54.26 seconds. Madushika who clocked under 54.5 seconds on Friday was visibly disappointed as she lost to Nadeesha in the final stretch but she did have some consolation in 200m heats where she beat  Nadeesha comfortably .

Another record by Nilani

In the morning, Nilani Rathnayaka who set a new meet record in the 3000M Steeple chase on Friday set a new meet record in the 1500m clocking 4 minutes 17.52 seconds which is the second best time by a Sri Lankan, only behind the time of 4 minutes 16. 42 seconds by Champika Dilrukshi in 2012.

Sugandhi, Ajith set new Sri Lanka record

Decathlete Ajith Karunathilaka and Heptathlete Lakshika Sugandhi renewed their own Sri Lanka records for the events after two hectic days of competition yesterday.

Ajith, the iron man of Sri Lanka collected a staggering 7,356 points, the second time he cleared the 7,000 points mark.  Sugandhi meanwhile collected 4,906 points to set the new Sri Lanka record.

Wounded Manjula beaten after 16 years

Veteran high Jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekara who was suffering from an injury returned to the track but it was perhaps his most disappointing outing in Sri Lanka in the high jumper as he was beaten by youngster Ushan Thiwanka who cleared 2.18m. Manjula clearing only 2.15m skipped the 2.18m and tried 2.21m but failed in his three attempts.

Himasha, Rumeshika Fastest athletes

Himasha Eashan once again became the National Champion of the 100m, for the sixth occasion timing 10.41 seconds which was a new meet record even though it was far behind his National record of 10.26 seconds.  Rumeshika Rathnayaka won the 100m women’s event with a time of 11.72 seconds.

Hemantha out of Asian Games

Hemantha Kumara who was shortlisted to take part in the Asian Games disappointed finishing second in the 1500m behind Kasun Tharaka Fonseka who won the event with 3 minute 51.35 seconds where the Athletics Association will now remove his entry as he could not achieve given target for the Asian Games.

Nadeeka returns 

Nadeeka Lakmali , the 2013 Asian Champion Silver medalist and world championship participant returned to the track after a gap of several years but could not win the event as Dilhani Lekamge the 2017 Asian Championship silver medalist beat her with a throw of 54. 95m.

Women’s Pole Vault had an interesting finish with National record holder Anitha Jegatheswaran and Sachini Perera both finishing first, clearing same height of 3.40m while seeing three third places.

Sanjaya Jayasinghe had the thrill of winning the triple jump clearing 16.08m in his last attempt to take the gold ahead of National record holder Eranda Fernando who finished second with 16.06m.

A total of seven new meet records were established in the championship including four Sri Lankan records.

Full Results and More Details :- https://goo.gl/g8ZNPQ