Relay team runs fastest time in 19 years

Sri Lanka women’s 4x100m relay quartet ran the fastest time by a SL team in 19 years, but unfortunately finished second behind the Indian National team – who are among the top 20 in the world – in 44.55 seconds at the 60th Inter State Championship in India.

The race was run in searing heat. In the final, Sri Lanka decided to make one change to the team and shuffled the running order. They brought in senior athlete Lakshika Sugandhi in place of Safiya Yamic, and shuffled the lap order to get the best out of the team, with the experienced Sugandhi, who is the fastest of the quartet, running the first lap – which is her usual position – Amasha de Silva running the second leg, and Shelinda Jansen who is good at taking bends, running the third.

Youngest of all Medhani Jayamanne was entrusted the responsibility of running the last leg. Running in only the second relay event of her career, Medhani had to contend with a slow baton change which delayed her take off, yet she did not give much away against India’s Asian Games Silver medalist Dutee Chand, as they clocked 44.55 seconds, Sri Lanka’s fastest time since 2002.

The relay team got the opportunity to participate only due to an invitation extended by the Athletics Federation of India, who also gave an assurance they will fully fund the team, as the Sports Ministry refused to fund them. Meanwhile, Kalinga Kumarage who won Gold in the 400m, finished second in the 200m with a time of 21.13 seconds, while Nilani Rathnayaka finished third in the 3000m steeple chase in 10:12.02 seconds. Sumedha Ranasinghe finished third in the Javelin with a throw of 77.28m.