Janaka leaps astonishing 8.14m in long jump

– Janaka, Nilani best athletes
– Vidusha returns with seasonal best
– Nimali beats Gayanthika in 800m
– 4 Sri Lanka records; 11 meet recordsLong jumper Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri excelled in a thrilling long jump finish by achieving an astonishing feat of 8.14m in his last attempt to seal victory, as well as the best performer’s award at the 96th National Athletics Championship concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday .
Wimalasiri, who finished within the best eight in the Commonwealth Games, is one of Sri Lanka’s prime medal hopes in the forthcoming Asian Games. He was challenged right up to the end by H.G. Sampath, who had a wind assisted last round of 8.12m.
With his final attempt Wimalasiri made his winning leap,
clearing 8.14m within the legally permitted wind limit, which is also his personal best and second best leap ever by a Sri Lankan. It was also a new meet record.
The long jump competition saw some remarkable feats, with Sri Lanka record holder Amila Jayasiri, who finished with a best of 8.02m, clearing the 8m mark thrice in the competition, while Janaka had just three legal jumps and only one over 8m, which was enough for him to seal victory.
In the morning triple jump champion Vidusha Lakshani leaped 13.60m – a new meet record and a season’s best – to win the women’s triple jump beating her training mate Hashini Balasooriya, who also achieved her personal best of 13.39m. Both athletes now train under Cuban Coach Luis Mirando. Earlier they trained under Philip Ranjith.
“After three years I felt like I was being in a real competition in Sri Lanka. Very happy to win it with my second best leap ever. I was well challenged by fellow competitors which yielded this results,” said a jubilant Lakshani after the competition.
Earlier Lakshika Sugandhi, who set a new Sri Lanka record in the Heptathlon, also won the Gold medal in the 100m women’s hurdle event beating Ireshani Rajasinghe, while clocking a personal best of 13.94 seconds.
Nimali Liyanarachchi beat Gayanthika Abeyrathne in a thrilling 800m battle clocking 2 minutes 04.3 seconds, which is a new meet record, while Gayanthika clocked 2 minutes 04.4 seconds. Both will now compete in the Asian Games.
The Championship saw 11 new meet records including four Sri Lanka records.

 

Special Awards

Men

Best hurdler: – Asanka Rathnasena 400m hurdle 51.23 sec

Best Jumper –Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri Long jump 8.14m

Best High Jumper:- Ushan Thiwanka 2.18m

Best sprinter – Aruna Darshana 400M 46.16 sec

Best middle &Long distance runner :1. GR Chathuranga 800m 1:51.30sec

Best Performance – Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri Long jump 8.14m

Women

Best sprinter:- Nadeesha Ramanayaka 400m 53.27 seconds

Best middle distance runner:- Nilani Rathnayaka 3000M Steeple Chase 9:46.76 sec

Best long distance runner :- Anusha Lamahewa 5000M : 17 minutes 15.66 sec

Best hurdler –Lakshika Sugandhi 100m hurdle 13.92 sec

Best jumper :  Vidusha Lakshani triple jump 13.60m

Best thrower:Dilhani Lekamge javelin Throw 54.95m

Best performance :- Nilani Rathnayaka 3000M Steeple Chase 9:46.76 sec

Results

Women

 

5000M :1.  Anusha Lamahewa 17:15.66 sec, 2. GN Priyadarshani 17:17.38 sec, 3. MH Nadeesha 17:24.0

Shot Put : 1. Tharika Fernando 4.50m , 2. CP Senarathna 4.50m , 3. SE Janith 4.50m

100m hurdles : 1. Lakshika Sugandhi 13.92m , 2. Ireshani Rajasinghe 14.11sec , 3. PR Gunathilaka 14.72 sec

Triple Jump : 1. Vidusha Lakshani 13.60 sec, 2. Hashini Balasooriya 13.39 sec, 3. AT Lakshani 12.90 sec

800M : 1. Nimali Liyanarachchi 2:04.3 sec, 2. Gayanthika Abeyrathne 2:04.4 sec, 3. Champika Dilrukshi 2:08.7 sec

400M Hurdle: 1. Shayama Dulani 1:00.11 sec, 2. DN Lakmali 01:01.53 sec, 3. Kaushalya Madushani 01:01.62 sec

High Jump : 1. Dulanjali Ranasinghe 1.76m , 2. Purnima Gunarathne 1.70m , 3. MM Madushani 1.60m

Men

110m hurdle :1. Dhammika Ranathunga 14.56 sec, 2. Saliya Randeewa 14.78 sec, 3. RI Perera 14.90 sec

800M: 1. GR Chathuranga 1:51.30 sec,2. SK Wedagedara 1:51.36 sec, 3. HS Karunarathne 1:51.49 sec

5000M: 1. AK Tharanga 14:36.9 sec, 3. AJ Kumara Bandara 14:53.7 sec, 3. MV Kumara 14:58.1 sec

400m Hurdle : 1. Asanka Rathnasena 51.23 sec, 2. Aravinda Chathuranga 51.54 sec, 3. Asitha Rathnasena 53.05 sec

 

Pole Vault : 1. AC Fernando 4.50m,2. CP Senarathna 4.50m , 3. SE Janith 4.50m

Hammer Throw : 1. SR Kumarasiri 48.97m , 2. DR Sisira Kumara 45.70m , 3. K.Nilantha 44.91sec

Long jump : 1. Janaka Wimalasiri 8.14m , 2. HG Samapath 8.12m (+4.1m/s), 3. Amila Jayasiri 8.02m

Hammer throw : 1. SR Kumarasiri 48.97m , 2. Sisira Kumara 45.70m , 3. K.Nilantha 44.91m

Javelin Throw: 1. Sampath Ranasinghe 78.79m ,2. Sumedha Ranasinghe 77.21m , 3. Waruna Lakshan Dayarathne 74.22m

More detail :-