Shelinda, Seniru qualify for Youth Olympics
Gateway Sprinter Shelinda Jansen and Royal High Jumper Seniru Amarassinghe booked their places for the for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 6 to 16 October this year.
Jansen, who finished fourth in the 200m at the Asian qualifying trials in Bangkok yesterday, was the third Sri Lankan athlete to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games following the 2000m Steeple Chase runner Parami Wasanthi Marisstella and the 400m runner Dilan Bogoda who won their respective events at the Asian qualifications.
High Jumper Seniru then leap a huge personal best of 2.14metres to place second in the Asian trials to become the fourth SL athletes to qualify for the youth Olympics. His performance also put him as equal 3rd place in the world youth high jump top list. His performance also equivalent to silver medal performance at the last Youth Olympics.
| High Jump |
Danil Lysenko Russia |
2.20 | Yuji Hiramatsu Japan |
2.14 PB | Shemaiah James Australia |
2.14 PB |
Seniru was gradually improved in high jump as he represented Sri Lanka in the South Asian Junior athletics championship then improved his personal best to leap 2.05m just days ago at the western province schools athletics championship before increase his personal best further at Bangkok.
Earlier Shelinda had a forgettable final as she clocked a modest 25.50 seconds in the final to be fourth after clocking a near PB of 24.99 earlier in the heats. But, she finished within the Asian quota for the Youth Olympic Games which is four – hence will get the chance to attend the Youth Olympic Games.
Shelinda has been part of Sri Lanka’s gold medal winning 4x100m relay team at the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship despite been 17 years of age while also sealing a South Asian Junior bronze medal in the 200m competing with the under 20 athletes.
Shelinda was ranked 9th in Asia when she left for the competition but had managed to finish within the top four to grab the qualification. Seniru ranked fifth in Asia before went to the competition.
