96th National Athletic Championships: Aruna Dharshana wins 400m

Tipped by many to follow in the steps of the celebrated Sugath Tillekeratne, Darshana had a slight lead over his more experienced competitor Kalinga Kumarage. The winning time of 46.16 didn’t exactly set the neighbouring Kelani on fire. But it was conclusive proof that the country had found a gem of rare brilliance. What remains is for the authorities to take him in hand and bring him up to Asian level at least. At 19 years of age, the world seems to be opening up at his feet.

Himasha Eashan, who has been around for a while,won the short sprint from Kumara and Ashroff. Incidentally all three serve in the Army.

Speaking to the Sunday Times after his win, Eashan confessed that he should have done better than his timing of 10.41. His training had been affected in the recent past. Besides he pointed out that the competition could have been tougher. He holds the Sri Lankan record of 10.26 set in India.

The girl from Kegalle, Rumeshika Ratnayake breezed home in the short sprints. She eased up towards the end as the second-placed Vidanaduruge was not quite in the picture.

Teenager Parami Wasanthi Maris Stella placed second in the 3000metres steeplechase coming in behind Army’s formidable Nilani Ratnayake.

Former champion Nadeeka Lakmali was beaten into second place by Dilhani Lekamge in her pet event, the javelin. This was a bit of a surprise.

Manjula Wijesekera, the fading high jumper, and his closest challenger the up and coming schoolboy Ushan Thivanka were locked in a close tussle for supremacy.

Overall, the standard was not all that high, according to some leading AAASL officials. The exception is the sprints. A new talented bunch is coming up especially in the 400metre event.

 RESULTS

MEN

•     Discus Throw: 1. K.G.U.P. Jayawardena (Navy) 56.40; 2. Z.T.M.Razik (Army); 3. H.M.P. Ratnayake (Air Force); 4. Sunanda Roshan (Govt. Services) 42.07.
•     Shot Putt: 1. Samantha Jayawardena (Army) 16.23; 2. A.J.D. Perera (Navy) 15.67; (3) W.S.M. Fernando (Army) 15.04; B.H.C. Ferdinando (Army) 14.26.
•    10,000 Metres: 1. K. Shanmugeswaran (Army) 30.57.26; 2. G.P. Kumara Bandara (Army); 3. P.A.P. Maduranga (Air Force). 4. Aruna Tharanga (Unattached) 32.53.17.
•    1500 Metres: 1. H.K.T. Fonseka (Army); 2. Hemantha Kumara (Govt. Services); 3. Sajeeva Lakmal (Army) 3.53.70; 4. Rukshan Habarakada (Army) 3.54.25.
•    100 Metres: Himasha Eshan (Army); 2. H.AS.S. Kumara (Army) 10.67; 3. A.L.M. Ashraf (Army) 10.70; 4. A.S. Mohammed Safan (Lanka Lions) 10.73; 5. Shehan Ambepitiya (Army) 10.74.

•     400 Metres: S. Aruna Darshana (Schools) 46.16; 2. Kalinga Kumara (Army) 46.30; 3. W.G. Premakumara (Army) 47.21; 4. Pasindu Kodikara (Schools) 47.21; 5. Dilip Ruwan (Army) 47.39; (6) A.W.L.P. Gunaratne (Army).

WOMEN

•     3000 Metres Steeple Chase: U.K.N. Ratnayake (Army) 9.46.76 (New SLR); 2. Pavani Vasanthi (Maris Stella/Schools). 10.31.16 (NMR); 3. H.W.N. Kumari (Navy) 11.07.68’ 4. K.D.P. Kumarage (Air Force) 11.43.97; 5. H.K.I. T. Udaya Kumari (Air Force).
•     Long Jump: 1. Anjani Pulawansa (Unattached) 6.08; 2. Harshani Jayakantha (State Services) 6.04; 3. D.W.C. M. Thilakaratne (Air Force) 5.96; 4. N.A.D. Dananjani (Army); 5. D.D. Mohottala (Air Force) 5.38.
•     Hammer Throw: 1. H.A. Lakshika (Air Force) 46.18; 2. P.K.A. Maduwanthi (Air Force); 3. W.M.S. Ratnasiri (Army) 38.67; 4. G.F. Hassim (Air Force).
•     10,000 Metres: 1. S.A. Lamahewage (Navy) 36.48.4 ; 2. A.N.L. Ariyadasa (Air Force) 37.21.0; 3. D.M.P. Madushika (Army) 37.30.1.
•     Javelin Throw: 1. H.L.N.D. Lekamge (Army) 54.95; 2. Nadeeka Lakmali (Army) 51.72; 3. K.A.M.P. Silva (Navy) 49.07; 4. S.P.H. Sewandi (Ratnapura DA) 48.53.
•     1500 Metres: 1. U.K.N. Ratnayake (Army) 4.17.52; 2. N.M.C. Dilrukshi (Air Force) 4.36.36; 3. W.P.S. Dulakshi (Air Force); 4. K.G.M. Kumari (Air Force) 4.40.37.
•     100 Metres: 1. Rumeshika Ratnayake (Army) 11.72; 2. S.L.Vidanadurge (Air Force) 12.29; 3. W.V.I. Sugandi (Army) 12.29; 4. Sachini Godamunne (Lanka Lions) 12.39.
•     400 Metres: 1. R. Nadeesha (Army) 53.27; 2. P.G.N. Madushika (Air Force) 53.89; 3. E.W. Ratnakumari (Army) 54.26; 4. W.N.L.A.Nimali (Air Force) 55.06.