Long jumper Prasad Wimalasiri recorded a personal best jump of 8.10m to qualify for the forthcoming Asian Games in Indonesia while young high jump prodigy Ushan Thiwanka achieved a new milestone of 2.24m to become only the second Sri Lanka to do so behind his coach and current national champion Manjula Kumara at the second selection trial held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Wimalasiri, 26 eclipsed his previous best of 7.92m. The national athletics selectors set a target of 7.95 for Asian Games selection and Wimalasiri passed it with ease.
Thiwanka, 20 who cleared 2.20m at the Junior Nationals Athletics Championships two weeks ago was in great form as he cleared the 2.24m without any trouble. His next attempt was at 2.28m, a feat no Sri Lankan has ever achieved, but it was not successful. The Asian Games qualifying standard is set at 2.25m but given his impressive performance, he could still make the team to Indonesia. Manjula Kumara, the undisputed national high jump champion since 2002 has cleared 2.27m–the only Sri Lankan to do so.
Meanwhile 100m runner Yupun Priyadarshana won a the short sprint with a personal best time of 10.31secs.
There were also some other impressive performances in the men’s 400m dash with Dilip Ruwan (46.42secs) and A Premakumara (46.69secs) clocking sub 47secs.
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