Iron man Ajith went past 7000 points mark for the 3rd time
Decathlete Ajith Karunathilaka, hurdler Ireshani Rajasinghe and Race Walker B.P. Gayani excelled with new meet records, while Himasha Eashan and Yupun Abeykoon gear up for another fascinating 100m finals at the Army Athletics Championship 2019 continued at Sugathadasa Stadium on Tuesday (27) .
Ajith, Sri Lanka’s Iron man in athletics, went over 7000 points for the third time in his career to set a new meet record in the decathlon, and erased his own record of 6837 points set in 2016.
Ireshani who finished second in the National championship, clocked 14.03 seconds in a -2.2 m/s headwind, to erase the meet record of 14.20 seconds set by Lakshika Sugandhi in 2016. Lakshika who won three Gold medals at the National Championship – 100m hurdles, heptathlon and 100m – did not compete in the 100m hurdles event here, as she is focusing on the 100m and 200m events.
Ironically, with Sugandhi opting out, the heptathlon event was cancelled as there were no competitors to take part in the event yesterday.
B.P. Gayani clocked 51 minutes 27.62 seconds in the 10000m race walking event to set a new meet record breaking the previous record of 51:45.33 set by Kalhari Madrika. Madrika finished second.
Himasha vs Yupun
Yupun Abeykoon who was recovering from an injury, showed much promise during the 100m semi-final yesterday, easing down with 10.74 seconds, while National Champion Himasha Eashan, too, was in good form, indicating a mouth watering 100m finals on Wednesday .
Abeykoon from Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Regiment (SLEME) is training in Italy, and once a year he makes a trip to participate in the Army Athletics Championship. Abeykoon ran a relaxed 10.31 seconds in 2018 and has beaten Himasha during a previous Army Championship. However, Eashan the South Asian record holder from Artillery Regiment (SLA) with a personal best of 10.22 second, came on top during the Nationals last week, while Yupun will be eyeing to grab the title of fastest man.
In the morning Rusiru Chathuranga, who clocked 1:49.72 seconds in the 800m heats to set a new meet record, was beaten in the final by National Champion Indunil Herath in a tape finish. Rusiru held the advantage coming into the last 200m with Indunil breathing down his neck. Rusiru tried to hang on to his slender lead only to be beaten on the line in the last few metres. Women’s 800m was won by last year’s Asian Junior Bronze medalist Dilshi Kumarasinghe.
Defending Champion Asitha Rathnasena and former National Champion Aravinda Chathuranga were beaten in emphatic fashion by Lahiru Prasanjith in the men’s 400m hurdle finals. Prasanjith, a former Asian Junior participant, was lagging behind in the first 250m, and all indications were he would finish last, but he ran an amazing final 100m to chase down the two leaders Asitha and Aravinda and seal victory.
One attempt win for Vidusha
Following a minor injury scare in the long jump, Asian Championship Bronze medalist Vidusha Lakshani came back for her pet event, the Triple Jump on Monday, but retired after a single attempt as she felt uneasy with her injured leg. Yet her ‘half’ attempt of 12.91m was more than enough for her to win the Gold medal.
It was announced that motorbikes are on offer for the best male and female athletes of the competition, and currently 3000m steeple chase runner Nilani Rathnyaka and Long Jumper Amila Jayasiri are front runners to win the prize.
