Himasha, Nadeesha dazzle while Sumedha goes over 80M Mark ahead of Asian C’ship

April 06: Sprinter Himasha Eashan and quarter miler Nadeesha Ramanayaka caught the eye with their dazzling performances as Eashan returned to an easy-looking 10.37 seconds while Nadeesha clocked 53.33 seconds during the Army Volunteer Forces Inter-Regiment Championship concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

Competing in their last domestic competition prior to the Asian Championship 2019 which will begin in another two weeks, southern athlete Nadeesha clocked a seasonal best of 53.33 to win the Women’s 400m in style. That performance also secured her the Best Female Athlete title of the meet. It was visible that she had something left in the tank with none coming close to challenging her for the win: where such a challenge could have seen her getting closer to her personal best timing of 53.03 seconds set last year.

Meanwhile, South Asian record holder Himasha Eashan clocked a relaxed 10.37 seconds into a 0.3 headwind to win the Men’s 100m which was also a new meet record. Eashan renewed and improved his South Asian record early this year with 10.22 seconds while also clocking 10.24 seconds to win the second trial. Earlier in the first trial he clocked a wind-assisted 10.11 seconds, which is the fastest time by a SL athlete in any condition.

Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe impressed with a seasonal best of 80.22m to win the Javelin Throw. This was third instance where he passed the 80m mark, and the first since 2016.

Several athletes who are set to participate in the Asian Championship competed during the three day championship, where Long Jumper Danushka Sandaruwan leaped a meet record breaking 7.86m to walk away with the Best Athlete title of the meet.

22 new meet records set

A total of 22 new meet records were set during the championship. Middle distance runner Kupun Kushantha excelled with Gold in the 800m and 1500m where he clocked a personal best of 1 minute 49.36 seconds in the former – a new meet record – while also dipping under the 3 minutes 50 seconds mark in the 1500m event.

Men’s 400m runner Priyantha Gunarathne clocked his second sub 47 seconds in the 400m as he won the event within 46.99 seconds, shattering the meet record. Hurdlers Roshan Dammika (14.38 seconds) and Asitha Rathnasena (51.80 sec) set new meet records in the 110m and 400m Hurdles events respectively. S.E.Janith vaulted over 4.60m to set another new meet record.

Earlier, R.S. Jayawardene renewed the Shot Put record with a 15.98M performance, while Discus Thrower Z.T.M. Aasik reached 44.27m to set another new meet record. Decathlete Mohommad Asan returned his personal best with 6721 points to set a new meet record as well.

In Women’s events, Long Jumper Sarangi Silva won double Gold with her pet event, the Long Jump (6.01m) and the 100m with a time of 12.26 seconds, which was a new meet record.

Hammer Thrower Manoji Amarasinghe set a new meet record with a 44.60m performance, while 10,000m runner M.N. Nandasena (37:34.58 sec.) and 3000m Steeple Chase runner S.N. Bandara (11:17.11 sec.) set additional new meet records. Shayama Dulani clocked sub 60 seconds in the 400m Hurdles (59.73) seconds to set a new meet record, while Triple Jumper Vidusha Lakshani won the event with an easy 12.91m, which was also a new meet record.

The Electronic and Mechanical Engineering regiment (SLEME) emerged overall champions with 273 points, ahead of the Light Infantry regiment (SLLI) and Artillery regiment who finished second and third. In the Women’s championship, the 4th Army Women’s Corps emerged champions with 217 points, while the 2nd and 3rd Army Women’s Corps finished second and third.