Himasha dazzles -Shatters South Asian Record in 100M
Sprinter Himasha Eashan set the track on fire once again as he shattered his own Sri Lanka 100m record clocking 10.22 seconds at the National Athletics Trials concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium .
Coming into the last day of the trials, everybody’ eyes were on Eashan as his wind aided 10.11 seconds and 10.12 seconds in the heats and semi-finals was a clear reflection of what was to come in the finals.
“I was lagging behind after the 2016 South Asian Gold Medal. I could not do my best during the last two years. My coach changed a lot in my way of training since last off-season and this is the result of that,” said Eashan.
“My target was to run below 10.22 seconds. Actually I did not target this trial. My target is the Asian Championship and getting qualified for the forthcoming IAAF World Championship,” added Eashan.
Eashan’s Coach Chaminda Perera, who was jubilant after the result, said his athlete needed more competitive races.
“I think if Himasha can get a few good international races ahead of the Asian and World Championships it will help him immensely,” said Perera.
Meanwhile, 17 year old sprinter Shelinda Jansen completed a sprint double and dipped under the 12 seconds mark in the 100m doing so. Jansen clocked a personal best of 11.93 seconds to win the 100m beating her senior counterparts in her first ever National trials
“I was looking for that sub 12 seconds mark several times; even earlier this year (at the ISAC). I have improved gradually, race by race, so it took a little bit of time. I’m still 17, the youngest in that race, so I am very happy about the performance,” said Jansen.
The women’s 800m had a thrilling final in the morning, where defending Asian Championship Gold Medalist Nimali Liyanarachchi held her nerve to win the event in an impressive 02 minutes 2.83 seconds, while Gayanthika Abeyrathne (2:03.36 seconds) and Dilshi Kumarasinghe (2:04.23 seconds) finished second and third. In doing so, all three athletes achieved the qualification standards for the Asian Championship published by AASL, which was 02:04.5 seconds.
In the Long Jump Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri leapt 8.07m – a seasonal best for him – as he achieved qualification standard of 7.90m. Danushka Sandaruwan leapt 7.89m, just 0.01cm behind the given qualification standard.
In the Javelin Throw, Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe achieved the qualification standard with a performance of 78.82m.
Results
Men
Long Jump: 1. G.P Wimalasiri 8.07m, 2. Sandaruwan Priyantha 7.89m, 3. Greeshan Dananajaya 7.86m
5000M:1. RMS Pushpakumara 14:28.79 sec, 2. AK Tharanga 14:33.13 sec , 3. K.Shanmugeswaren 14:35.52 sec
800M: 1. Rusiru Chathuranga 1:50.47 sec, 2. SK Wedagedara 1:51.03 sec, 3. Susantha Kumara 1:51.17 sec
Discus Throw: 1. U.P. Jayawardana 51.55m, 2. M. Aasik 44.15m, 3. Sunanda Niroshana 42.20m
110M Hurdles: 1. Dammika Ranatunga 14.53 sec, 2. P.H. Nirmal 14.65 sec, 3. R.I. Perera 14.79 sec
200M: 1. Suranjaya de Silva 21.39 sec, 2. S.M. Safan 21.86 sec, 3. Shehan Ambepitiya 21.91 sec
Javelin Throw: 1. Sumedha Ranasinghe 78.82m, 2. Waruna. Dayarathna 74.87m, 3. D.S. Ranasinghe 72.02m
High Jump: 1. U.T. Perera 2.15m, 2. Nadine Costa 2.05m, 3. S.A.T. Dasun 2.05m
400m Hurdles: 1. A.S. Dulani 59.80 sec, 2. E.K. Madushani 59.98 sec, 3. Amesha Hettirarachchi 1:01.27 min
400m Hurdles: 1. Navodya Sankalpa 52.26 sec, 2. Aravinda Chathuranga 52.33 sec, 3. A.I. Rathnasena 52.87 sec
100m: 1. Himasha Eshan 10.22 sec, 2. Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva 10.64 sec, 3. G.C. Ranaweera 10.67 sec
400m: 1. P.L. Kodikara 47.23 sec, 2. L.P. Gunarathna 47.28 sec, 3. G.T. Dananjaya 47.66 sec
1500M: 1. Sajeewa Lakmal 3.50.43 min, 2. Kumara Fernando 3:50.44 min, 3. D.H. Kumara 3.51.18 Min
Women
Triple Jump: 1. D.V. Lakshani 13.28m, 2. H.P. Balasooriya 13.06m, 3. R.H. Randi 12.21m
200M: 1. Shelinda Jansen 24.74 sec, 2. Omaya Udayangani 25.48 sec, 3. Shivanthi Jayathilaka 25.54 sc
Pole Vault : 1. Sachini Perera 3.30 , 1. Lakrani Perera 3.30, 3. Imasha Silva 2.90M
10000M : 1. M.Nandasena 36:38.9 sec, 2. Nilani Ariyadasa 36:40.5 sec, 3. SN Bandara 36:58.1 sec
800M:1. Nimali Liyanarachchi 2:02.83 sec, 2. Gayanthika Abeyrathne 2:03.36 sec, 3. Dilshi Kumarasinghe 2:04.23 sec
Shot Put : 1. Tharika Fernando 14.23m , 2. Nadeeka Muthunayaka 12.89m , 3. Priyangika Kumari 11.64m
100m hurdles : 1. Lakshika Sugandhi 14.36m ,2. WK Hapuarachchi 15.24 sec, 3. BS Dulakshi 15.52 sec
Shot Put: 1. T.K. Fernando 14.23m, 2. N.D. Muthunayaka 12.89m, 3. Priyangika Kumari 11.64m
100M Hurdles: 1. V.L. Sugandi 14.36 sec, 2. W.K. Hapuarachchi 15.24 sec, 3. B.S. Dulakshi 15.52 sec
200M: 1. Shelinda Jansen 24.74 sec, 2. Omaya Udayangani 25.48 sec, S.S. Jayathilaka 25.54 sec
Hammer Throw: 1. S.M. Amarasingha 45.77m, 2. A. Lakshika 43.96m, 3. S.N. Rathnasiri 38.76m
100M: 1. Shelinda Jansen 11.93 sec, 2. Shafiya Yamick 12.14 sec, 3. V.L. Sugandi 12.18 sec
400m: 1. R. Nadeesha 54.15 sec, 2. L.A. Nimali 54.98 sec, 3. M.S. Kumarasinghe 55.06 sec
1500m: 1. G.T.A. Abeyrathna 4:20.22 min, 2. N.M.C. Dilrukshi 4:22.35 min, N.A. Kumari 4:55.18 min
