Chamod, Amasha Seal Fastest Titles

Amasha de Silva crashed the party to upset Rumeshika Rathnayaka’s return, while Chamod Yodasinghe broke the shackles of a forgetful heat to seal the 100m Women’s and Men’s titles, as the pair put their coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody in seventh heaven at the Asian Games and Junior National Trials 2022 started at Sugathadasa Stadium .

Rumeshika Rathnayaka, who was making a comeback, looked strong as she had the fastest time in the heats with 11.72 seconds, and after the first 50m of the finals, she was clearly ahead, which left Amasha with lots of catching up to do. But the Kandyan lass (22), never gave up and fought back to lean forward on the line to retain her crown, clocking a wind aided 11.63 seconds (+2.5 m/s). Rumeshika, the former South Asian champion, clocked 11.68 seconds, while another Kandyan lass Safiya Yamic finished third in 11.82 seconds. Lakshika Sugandhi (11.87 sec) and Shelinda Jansen (11.87) finished fourth and fifth and once again justified their inclusion in the Women’s 4x100m relay team for the elite National pool. Medhani Jayamanne, another sub 12 seconds runner, came to the start despite having a GCE (A/L), but unfortunately, she was disqualified due to a false start.

Yodasinghe, 22, was one of the favourites to win the men’s 100m title, especially in the absence of National champion Himasha Eashan, who is provisionally suspended for testing positive for a banned substance. But he found himself losing to Kavindu Rajakaruna in the heats which shackled his mind, but the youngster came back strong to win the final clocking 10.53 seconds, while Chanuka Dharmakeerthi finished second returning the same time.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Tharushi Karunarathne from A. Rathnayaka CC Walala ran in the senior women’s 400m event instead of the junior event, and was still able to win the event clocking 56.17 seconds. The event was wide open with both former National Champions Dilshi Kumarasinghe and Nadeesha Ramanayaka missing out due to injury, where Tharushi came through to become champion. Sithum Jayasundara from St. Anne’s College Kurunegala won the junior men’s 400m title clocking 48.24 seconds, but the tall sprinter opted out of competing in the 100m, which he dominated over the past couple of years, due to lack of rest between the two events.

Men

Shot Put: 1. S.M. Fernando 16.95m, 2. Joy Danushka Perera 14.07m, 3. B.D. Delvita 13.81m

5000m: 1. Dhanushka Sandaruwan 15:05.98 sec, 2. V.S. Dilshan 15:27.53 sec, 3. Karunarathne Banda 15:34.52 sec

Hammer Throw: 1. Sanjaya Bandara 46.85m, 2. D.M. Dharmasena 46.82m, 3. Sisira Kumara 46.66m

High Jump: 1. A.T. Dasun 2.08m, 2. I.U. Kumara 2.04m, 3. I.K. Piyasiri 1.95m

Shot Put: 1. T.R. Alwis 15.51m, 2. M.V. Newan 13.54m, 3. Uvindu Sudaraka 13.42m

100m: 1. Chamod Yodasinghe 10.53 sec, 2. Chanuka Dharmakeerthi 10.53 sec, 3. S.D. Sanjaya 10.54 sec

400m: 1. Kalinga Kumarage 47.00 sec, 2. Pabasara Niku 47.17 sec, 3. Isuru Lakshan 47.63 sec

1500m: 1. D.H. Kumara 3:51.26 sec, 2. N. Wijesinghe 3:53.42 sec, 3. D.L. Prathapa 3:53.54 sec

Junior Men

High Jump: 1. U. Thennakoon 2.02m, 2. N.P. Thenuja 1.90m, 3. Pasan Dilhara 1.90m

100m: 1. Ayesh Mihiranga 10.91 sec, 2. Hirusha Hashen 10.95 sec, 3. Pasindu Gunawardena 10.95 sec

400m: 1. Sithum Jayasundara 48.24 sec, 2. M.D. Dharshana 49.05 sec, 3. Pasindu Gunawardena 50.11 sec

Women

10000m: 1. C.S. Herath 36:35.36 sec, 2. S.N. Bandara 37:36.98 sec, 3. W.M. Herath 38:18.27 sec

Triple Jump: 1. A.A. Sewwandi 12.50m, 2. Randi Cooray 12.44m, 3. A.K. Mayun 11.68m

Javelin Throw: 1. Dilhani Lekamge 53.66m, 2. Nadeeka Lakmali 50.13m, 3. D.H. Maduwanthi 48.02m

100m: 1. Amasha de Silva 11.63 sec, 2. Rumeshika Rathnayaka 11.68 sec, 3. Safiya Yamick 11.82 sec

400m: 1. Tharushi Karunarathne 56.17 sec, 2. H.M. Fernando 57.75sec, 3. N.H. Fernando 57.91 sec

Junior Women

Javelin Throw: 1. L.K. Hapuarachchi 37.88m, 2. N.S. Peiris 33.45m, 3. S. D. Athapaththu 29.98m

100m: 1. Dulyana Suludagoda 12.19 sec, 2. Dinara Dela Bandara 12.23 sec, 3. Shashika Sandeepani 12.57 sec

400m: 1. J. Uthpala 56.41 sec, 2. K. Edirisinghe 56.80 sec, 3. V.R. Gayesha 59.42 sec

Pole Vault: 1. U.T. Wickramasekara 2.9m

Triple Jump: 1. Neha Hettiarachchi 11.86m, 2. R.R. Sewwandi 11.63m, 3. Ashani Senevirathne 11.46m