Lankan men’s 4x 400 relay team excel on last day

Sri Lanka men’s 4x 400 relay team put up a good show in the last event of the 101st Senior Athletic Championship which concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Sri Lanka team finished second while Indian A team comprising top athletes won the event.

This 4x 400 m men’s relay was the main attraction of the meet with both Sri Lanka and India teams heading for the forthcoming world championship in Hungary. Kalinga Kumarage who set up a 400m individual event new meet record (45.07m) on the previous day was in fine form to finish the relay last lap and he was able to make lessen the gap while Aruna Dharshana, Rajitha Rajakaruna and Pabasara Niku were the other runners of the event.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka women’s A team also had to be satisfied with second place at the 4x 400m relay. Dilshi Kumarasinghe of Sri Lanka Army taking part after recovering from injury put up a good show at the second lap but Asian championship gold medalist Nadeesha Ramanayaka was the key attraction who made a good run to get close to the first slot but finally ended in second place ahead of Sri Lanka – India combined team which was placed third.

Susantha Fernando the head coach of Tharushi said due to medical advice Tharushi Karunaratne was rested from this meet and she is seriously focused on next Asian Games. If Tharushi ran yesterday in 800m, she had a slight chance to get qualification for world Athletic Championship but we are more focused on Asian Games and decided to rest her.

17 year old Thushen Silva of Maris Stella College Negombo renewed his own under 18 Sri Lanka record in pole vault with a performance of 4.80m and his achievement is ranked in 20th in world Athletic under 18 category.

The second day Indian Kishore Kumar Jena threw 84.38m to establish new meet record S.M. Sooriyampala the 34 year old athlete won women’s high jump title exactly after 10 years while Samantha Pushpakumara became one of the few athletes to hold National championship title in their 40’s at men 10,000m.

Janidu Lakvijaya was highlighted of this meet while he set up new meet record of 110 m hurdle 13.77 seconds on second day while yesterday (previous record 13.82 seconds) while Lakvijaya was came to the fore yesterday and he renewed his own record with 13.72seconds

Lakvijaya of Mercantile Athletic Federation won the Duncan White challenge trophy as best men’s hurdler of the meet and he received his award from chief guest Secretary of the Sports Ministry K.Maheshan .U.D.Y .W Kumara won best long jumper to take best jumper N.M Vasagam Challenge trophy.

B.R.I U Kumara won Anthony Abeysinghe challenge trophy for his high jump performance.Gayanthika Abeyratne the middle distance runner who won both 800 m and 1500m won Grayline Group challenge trophy for best women’s middle distance runner .H.M.W.G W.M Herath who won 5000m race yesterday was awarded the best long distance women’s trophy. Lakshika Sugandi won best performance hurdles award while Sarangi Silva who won long jump won best women’s jump award.