Handful of impressive performances means Asian Championship team set be smaller
The Sri Lanka team for the Asian Championships appeared likely to be limited to 14 athletes due to below par performances by many of those competing for a berth as the second and final series of trials to select the team ended at Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday (22nd) .
An impressive performance once again came from sprinter Himasha Eashan, who clocked 10.24 seconds to win the 100m trial under given qualification standards of 10.25 seconds for the second time after his South Asian record breaking time of 10.22 seconds in the first trials.
Defending Asian Championship women’s 800m Gold medalist Nimali Liyanarachchi excelled once again, clocking 2 minutes 02.65 seconds, while Silver medalist at the last Asian Championship Gayanthika Abeyrathne clocked 2 minutes 03.62 seconds as the middle distance duo both got set to be selected to the team.
Rusiru Chathuranga excelled in the men’s 800m clocking 1 minute 48.10 seconds, and is set to get selected along with Hemantha Kumara who clocked a personal best of 3 minutes 45.48 seconds in the 1500m event.
Early in the morning 3000m steeplechase runner Nilani Rathnayaka who finished 6th in the Asian Games clocked 9 minutes 55.15 seconds to achieve qualification standards of 10 minutes. Two long jumpers, Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri and Danushka Sandaruwan both achieved qualification standards of 7.90m in the first trial. In fact Sandaruwan, who came in second during the first trial, won the event in the second trial with a leap of 7.95m, beating Prasad and ensuring that both of them will get the Asian Championship ticket. Men’s triple jumper Greshan Dananjaya already achieved the qualification during the first trials so he will be a automatic selection, while women’s triple jumper Vidusha Lakshani who came close to the qualification mark with 13.26m will also get selected to the team.
In the other event, javelin thrower Sumedha Ranasinghe achieved the required qualification standard of 78.50m during both trials as he threw 79.65m during the second trial.
Nadeesha Ramanayaka returned to the sub-54 seconds mark with 53. Other direct inclusion will be 400m winner Ajith Premakumara who clocked 46.52 seconds .
Summery of Results
MEN
3000m Steeplechase: Suren Karunarathne (9:11.41 min), S. Chandradasan (9:32.63 min), W.G.C. Fernando (9:33.77 min)
Javelin Throw: Sumedha Ranasinghe (79.65m), D.S. Ranasinghe (71.92m), P.A.P. Lakmal (70.62m)
High Jump: S.T. Amarasinghe (2.15m), Ushan Thiwanka Perera (2.10m), A.K. Pathirana (2.00m)
800m: G.R. Chathuranga (1:48.10 min), Kupun Kushantha (1:50.34 min), M.S. Kumara (1:50.94 min)
200m: S.M. Safan (21.24 sec), A.D. Sandaruwan (21.88 sec), D.C. Niroshan (22.47 sec)
400m: Tharusha Dananjaya (47.96 sec), Aruna Darshana (48.80 sec), Supun Nimansha (48.93 sec)
400m: M.G.A. Premakumara (47.06 sec), L.P. Gunarathna (47.31 sec), P.L. Kodikara (47.94 sec)
110m Hurdles: Dammika Ranatunga (14.40 sec), J.I. Lakwijaya (14.63 sec), R.I. Perera (14.71 sec)
100m Hurdles: Asanka Rathnasena (51.82 sec), Navodya Sankalpa (51.96 sec), Aravinda Chathuranga (52.65 sec)
Triple Jump: S.T. Seneviratne (15.65 m), N.S. Ahamed (15.55 m), S.K. Yapabandara (15.48 m)
Shot Put: S.M. Fernando (15.89m), Samitha Jayawardene (15.45m), Joy Danushka Perera (15.11m)
Discus Throw: A.T.M. Aasik (43.32m), J.T. Bandara (41.97m), M.S. Niroshana (41.27m)
1500m: Hemantha Kumara (3:45.48 min), Chinthaka Somawardana (3:53.44 min), N.C. Wijesinghe (3:53.80 min)
400m: Ajith Premakumara (46.52 sec), L.P. Gunaratne (46.98 sec), Pasindu Kodikara (47.65 sec)
Long Jump: Danushka Sandaruwan (7.95m), Prasad Wimalasiri (7.83m), Amila Jayasiri (7.77m)
100m: Himasha Eshan (10.24 sec), Surendra Kumara (10.57 sec), Kavindu Rajakaruna (10.62 sec)
WOMEN
3000m Steeplechase: Nilani Rathnayake (9:55.15 min), I.T. Udaya Kumari (11:49.88 min)
Triple Jump: Vidusha Lakshani (13.26m), H.P. Balasooriya (12.84m), K.A.T. Lakshani (12.11m)
800m: Nimali Liyanarachchi (2:02.65 min), G.T.A. Abeyratne (2:03.62 min), M.S. Kumarasinghe (2:06.70 min)
200m: Shermila Jan (24.40 sec), Shelinda Jansen (24.74 sec), Sadeepa Henderson (25.18 sec)
Discus Throw: A.G.V.V. Lakmali (40.52m), M.P. Perera (40.19m), Manisha Dilrukshi (36.71m)
Long Jump: S.L.S Silva (6.12m), Anjani Pulwansa (6.04m), S.H. Jayakantha (5.81m)
400m: Nadeesha Ramanayaka (53.47 sec), M.S. Kumarasinghe (54.94 sec), E.W.U. Rathnakumari (55.14 sec)
Javelin Throw: N.D. Lekamge (54.40m), Nadeeka Lakmali (53.00m), S.P.H. Sewwandhi (47.13m)
100m Hurdles: Lakshika Sugandhi (14.00 sec), I.S. Rajasinghe (14.32 sec), H.W.K. Hapuarachchi (14.92 sec)
400m Hurdles: Kaushalya Madushani (1:00.10 min), Shayama Dulani (1:00.89 min), N.D. Wickramasinghe (1:02.32 min)
High Jump: Dulanjali Ranasinghe (1.74m), Randi Cooray (1.65m) , M. Madushani (1.60m)
1500m: Gayanthika Abeyrathne (4:36.33 min)
Shot Put: Tharika Fernando (14.00m), Nadeeka Muthunayaka (12.94m), Priyangika Kumari (11.96m)
100m: Shelinda Jansen (11.95 sec), Sharmila Jan (11.99 sec), Sadeepa Henderson (12.08 sec)
