Medhani clocks 11.85, in to World Junior C’ship from 100m and 200m

Sprinter Medhani Jayamanne clocked a personal best of 11.85 seconds in the 100m as she achieved the qualification standard for World Junior Championship (11.85 sec) at the Junior National Trials held at Sugathadasa Stadium .

Medhani has already qualified for the 200m during the Inter-State Championship in India earlier this month. The World Juniors is set to be held from 17 to 22 August in Nairobi, Kenya. Trained under Coach Umanga Surendra, Medhani is an orphan who lost her father during her childhood, while her mother passed away just before her O/L exam.

Meanwhile, in other events of the day, 400m runner Isuru Kaushalya who has also qualified for the World Juniors, further improved his personal best time clocking 46.90 seconds to win the event. R.D Bandara (47.55 sec) and Sithum Jayawardana (47.86) finished second and third, indicating Sri Lanka has a chance of sending a mixed 4x400m relay team for the event.

Tharushi Karunarathne, another athlete who has qualified for the World Juniors in the 800m, won the 400m women finals with a time of 55.19 seconds, while Lashima Mendis finished second clocking 55.29 seconds.

Several athletes came close to the qualification standard but could not achieve it. However, they may still get a chance through their world ranking position in the event.