Disappointing performances continue at NSF
National Sports Festival 2019 continued for the second day with its athletics competition with some further disappointing performances as athletes found it hard to compete on the muddy grass track here at the Vincent Dias stadium Badulla.
Once again rain was in favour of athletes but the wet ground condition did not help their performing.
Triple Jumper Hashini Balasooriya, the Best Female Athlete from the last edition of the National Sports Festival wasn’t happy coming into the competition as broken promises of motor bikes for her during the last NFS leaving her still distraught. She was competing to defend her title as well as eyeing to overtake one of her training partners Anjani Pulwansa in the race to the Best Athlete title. Anjani’s effort of 5.96m in the long jump on Friday is equal to 990 points in the IAAF scoring table where Hashini had to leap 12.75m, but only managed 12.62m in the unfavourable conditions.
Dilshi Kumarasinghe with a personal best of 2 minutes 04.23 seconds in the 800m, needed to run a modest 2 minutes 10.01 seconds to overtake Anjani but despite her best effort on the unfavourable track, she ended up running 2 minutes 10.26 seconds which gave her 987 points according to the IAAF scoring table, 0.25 seconds slower than she needed to be.
Judging by the conditions and the athletes who are yet to compete, 400m women’s event is the best bet if any athlete is to overtake 990 points where women’s 400m winner will have to clock a better time than 55.63 seconds which Dilshi who is also competing in the 400m will be determined to clock today. 100m runners will have to clock better than 12.01 seconds which is unlikely on this track.
In the men’s events, High Jumper Ushan Thivanka’s effort of 2.12m which is equal to 1028 points in the IAAF scoring table. 800m runners need to clock 1 minute 49.94 seconds and Rusiru Chathuranga failed well short, clocking just 1:54.34 seconds. Javelin throwers and 400m runners have the best chance to overtake Ushan’s effort today and the 400m runners need to run under 47.26 seconds while Javelin Throwers need to throw more than 74.82m. For Triple Jumpers, they need to leap over 15.71m while the 110m hurdlers have to clock better than 14.21 seconds.
With the Sports Ministry displaying the two motor cars which are on offer for the Best Male and Female Athletes, enthusiasm among athletes for better performances have been on the increase but despite their best efforts, ground conditions did not help them to go for their targets.
“It’s like running through a paddy field , it was so slippery and you feel as if you going to fall down with each step you take. It’s frustrating that responsible officials don’t seems to not realize the agony athletes have go through when choosing venues like these muddy grass tracks to hold a competition of this magnitude “ said a Long Jumper on conditions of anonymity.
There were several instances where athletes slipped on the tracks and run ups despite their spikes.
On the performance, it was low just as the opening day as 800m men’s winner clocked the lowest winning time since 2011, while the Pole Vault winner leaped the lowest winning height also since 2011.
Results
Men
Pole Vault: Eranga Janith (WP) 4.50Pm, 2. A. Puvitharan (NP) 4.5M, 3. N.G. Samarasinghe (NCP) 4.40M
800M: 1. Rusiru Chathuranga (SP) 1:53.34 sec, 2. C. Aravindan (Uva) 1:54.56 sec, 3. S.T. Bulugahapitiya (CP) 1:54.83 sec
Shot Put: 1. Samith Fernando (WP) 15.44M, 2. Samitha Jayawardene (NWP) 15.27M, 3. Joy Danushka Perera (WP) 14.26M
4X100m: 1. Sabaragamuwa Province 41.77 sec, 2. Eastern Province 42.55 sec, 3. Western Province 43.17 sec
Women
Triple Jump: 1. Hashini Balasooriya (NWP) 12.62M, 2. A.T. Lakshani (NWP) 12.19M, 3. S.P. Karunanayake (SGP) 11.70M
Discus Throw: 1. Ishara Madurangi (WP) 40.88M , 2. V.V. Lakmali (NCP) 40.45m , 3. Maneesha Dilrukshi (SP) 38.24M
800M:1. Dilshi Kumarasinghe (CP) 2:10.26 sec, 2. Eranga Dulakshi (SP) 2:11.14 sec, 3. Champika Dilrukshi (NWP) 2:11.85 sec
4x100M: 1. Western Province 48.41 seconds, 2. Southern Province 49.88 seconds, 3. Central Province 49.89 seconds
Javelin Throw: 1. Dilhani Lekamge (SGP) 46.65m , 2. D.H. Madhumanthi (Uva) 44.45m, 3. V.K. Hapuarachchi (SGP) 43.45M
