By Dhammika Ratnaweera
The champion long jumper Sarangi de Silva came to the limelight by setting up a new meet record on the opening day of the 98th National Athletic Championship which has commenced today (26) at the Sugatadasa Stadium in Colombo. This is the first meet of the year for the local athletes due to the Global viral crisis of Covid 19 and Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) make arrangements to adhere to health regulations at this hard time. After the last December South Asian Games in Kathmandu, not a single competition for the local athletes and this is a good opportunity for them to build up their talents especially some athletes who tried hard to get Olympic qualifications.
The SAG gold medalist Sarangi de Silva was able to set up a new game record at the women’s long jump event and she made a seasonal best of 6.33m which also her second career-best performance to win the National title Her last attempt of the event seal the gold medal. The Soldier of the Sri Lanka Army Sarangi shattered the meet record with erasing of previous record of6.32m jointly owned by Chami Priyadharshani (2010) and India’s Anju Marcos in 1999. However, Sarangi 24-year-old athlete from Panadura Sri Sumangala Balika was eyeing to set of Sri Lankan record of 6.43m set by Chami Priyadharshani way back in 2015 but this time fell short of 10cm. Sarangi led the competition with a 6.07 m leap while Anjani Pulwansa was close behind with6.06m leap.
Meanwhile, the men’s long jump event won by Sreshan Dhananjaya with a 7.71m leap but this event was not expected thrilling as top contestants Amila Jayasiri, Prasad Wimalasiri, and Dhanushka Sandaruwan were absent. Both Jayasiri and Wimalasiri did not compete due to injury and lack of preparation while Sandaruwan who is studying in the USA did not make the trip due to the present situation.
Nilani Ratnayake who is within the Olympic qualification quota was not up to the standard at the 3000m steeplechase event at this Nationals but she won first place with 10minitues 15.86 seconds the event which was 19 seconds behind her personal best of 9 minutes 46.76 seconds
The two key athletes Kalinga Kumarage and Nadeesha Ratnayake were in good form with winning their respective men and women’s events of 200m. Kumarage the 28-year-old army soldier had disappointing two years from 2018 as he was caught in a Doaping scandal in 2018 which cost him a 2019 entire year before he was cleared after a lengthy legal battle. He had to wait an extra year due to Covid 19 but he got a good chance at this Nationals with a time of 21.08 seconds to win the 200m heat and then at the final 20.79 seconds to win the title and this was set up good confidence for sprinter Kalinga Kumarage to go forward.
Nadeesha Ramanayake who missed a double gold medal at the last South Asian Games due to Dengue Fever came back with good memories with winning the 400m with her personal best 24.15 seconds which second place won by Safia Yamic with 24.30 seconds. However, both Nadeesha Ramanayake and Kalinga Kumarage will be in action at the 400m on the final day on 29th December. Two SAG gold medalists Dilshi Kumarasinghe and Anura Dharshana will be competing in 400m and keen Russel to be expected.
Meanwhile, the much-expected Javelin thrower Sumedha Ranasinghe who is once again eyeing for the Olympic qualification won the men’s Javelin throw event with 75.10 m while the men’s shot put event won by Samitha Fernando with 16.12m
R.M.S Pushpakumara won the 5000m men’s event after winning it way back in 2006. However, he will more focus on 10000m and marathon.
On the second day on 27 th December 800m men and women finals,5000m women’s and high jump women’s events are the key events to be witnessed.
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