Sachini, Vidusha shine with new records at Defence Services
Since, almost all National champions are employed by the Tri-Forces, the Defence Services championship is very much like another National championship, with all national champions competing to win points for their respective Service.Lakshani leapt 13.58m, her second best jump of the year, to win the women’s triple jump with a new meet record, while her training partner Hashini Balasooriya finished second with another impressive leap of 13.40m.
In the pole vault, former gymnast Sachini Perera leapt 3.40m to set a new meet record. Perera who won the National championship at the last Nationals, shows great potential and improved vastly in the event.
Sprinter Rumeshika Rathnayaka had an easy task sealing the 200m win for Army, while Ajith Premakumara won the men’s 200m with ease.
Long jumper Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri, who failed to clear the 8m mark during the last Asian Games, cleared that mark this time with a wind aided 8.07m (+2.7), while Amila Jayasiri of Air Force finished second with a leap of 7.98m (+2.5) .
Dilhani Lekamge once again beat Nadeeka Lakmali to win the javelin throw Gold with a distance of 53.59m, while RS Jayawardene won the Shot put with a throw of 16.12m.
Gayanthika Abeyrathne has set her sights towards a middle distance double. She has already won the 1500m with time of 4 minutes 21.12 seconds and will compete in her pet event (the 800m) looking for the double.
Nine hurdles drama in 100m hurdle
Athletes competing in the heptathlon were forced to perform one extra event instead of the regular seven when due to a bizarre blunder officials failed to ensure there were 10 hurdles in the women’s 100m hurdle. There were only nine hurdles and the athletes had to re-run the event with ten hurdles.
Points Tally
Men: 1. Army 31, 2. Air Force 10, 3. Navy 4
Women: 1. Army 35, 2. Air Force 17, 3. Navy 11
Men
5000M: 1. AL Tharanga (Air Force) 14:36.27 sec, 2. DS Dissanayaka (Army) 14:46.21 sec, 3. AP Maduranga (Air Force) 14:51.41 sec
Hammer Throw: 1. K. Nilantha (Army) 46.09m, 2. Sisira Kumara (Army) 44.66m, 3. S.R Kumarasiri (Army) 43.55m
Long Jump: 1. Prasad Wimalasiri (Army) 8.07m, 2. Amila Jayasiri (Air Force) 7.98m, 3. Milan Dissanayaka (Navy) 7.60m
200m: 1. Ajith Premakumara (Army) 21.22 sec, 2. Surendra Kumara (Army) 21.60 sec, 3. Dasun Silva (Air Force) 21.65 sec
Shot Put: 1. RS Jayawardana (Army) 16.12m, 2. Joy Danushka Perera (Navy) 15.77m, 3. SM Fernando (Army) 14.88m
Women
10,000M: 1. MN Nandasena (Army) 36:03.73 sec, 2. Nilani Ariyadesa (Air Force) 36:36.70 sec, 3. Anusha Lamahewa (Navy) 36:52.06 sec
1500M: 1. Gayanthika Abeyrathne (Navy) 4:21.12 sec, 2. Nilani Rathnayaka (Army) 4:24.86 sec, 3. Eranga Dulakshi (Air Force) 4:28.94 sec
Triple Jump: 1. Vidusha Lakshani (Army) 13.58m, 2. Hashini Balasooriya 13.40m, 3. AT Lakshani (Air Force) 13.15m
Javelin Throw: 1. Dilhani Lekamge (Army) 53.59m, 2. Nadeeka Lakmali (Army) 51.84m, 3. DH Maduwanthi (Air Force) 45.89m
Pole Vault: 1. Sachini Perera (Army) 3.40m, 2. Lakrani Perera (Air Force) 3.20m, 3. VV Lakmali (Air Force) 3.10m
High Jump: 1. Dulanjali Ranasinghe (Navy) 1.70m, 2. SMM Madushani (Air Force) 1.68m, 3. S. Sooriyampola (Air Force) 1.59m
200M : 1. Rumeshika Rathnayaka (Army) 24.32 sec, 2. Nimali Madushika (Air Force) 24.83 sec, 3. Nadeesha Ramanayaka (Army) 24.84 sec
