Tharushi and Sithum qualify for World Junior Athletic C’ships
Two promising athletes Tharushi Karunaratne and Sithum Jayasundara were the key attraction yesterday at the Second Athletic Selection Trials held at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium while both of them ran their best at 400m races to qualify for the World Junior Athletic Championship.
The 17-year-old Tharushi Karunaratne of Walala A. Ratnayake MV produced her best run at the 400m final winning the race in a time of 54.29 seconds while the experienced Nadeesha Ramanayake had to be satisfied with second place with 54.88 seconds. Earlier, Thursushi finished her heat with 54.36 seconds to qualify for the World Junior Meet, and she could finish at the final, with better timing which was the highlight of the day.
Dilshi Kumarasinghe, the top athlete for this race who joined the action after being on the sidelines due to an injury for nine months, finished first at her heat with 55.84 seconds but she was not quite back to her full strength at the final race; couldn’t able to finished first three places. Holy Cross, Gampaha, athlete M.H.J Uththara was placed third at the 400 race with 55.19 seconds.
Also, 17-year-old Sithum Jayasundara of Sir John Kotalawala excelled at the 400m men’s race finishing first at the heats with 47.39 to qualify for the World Junior Meet, while he was able to improve at the 400m final with 47.33 seconds to finish second. Aruna Dharshana of the Sri Lanka Army was placed first with 46.37 while H.V.D Deshan was placed third with 47.64.
The Women’s 100m final, a race that produced a very close finish with Rumeshika Ratnayake of Kegalle DAA and Amasha de Silva of Army finishing with the same time of 11.84 seconds.
Ratnayake was declared the winner in a thrilling photo finish as Amasha was placed second. Third place was won by 20-year-old Medhani Jayamanne of Army with 11.95 seconds. Chamod Yodasinghe of Army was placed first at 100m Men’s race with 10.65 seconds while C.S Dharmakeerthi (10. 87sec) and A.S.M. Safan (10.94 sec) were placed second and third. The second day of the Trials will continue today.