W.K.L.A. Nimali of Air Force created the only record on the opening day of the three day 89th National Athletics Championships at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Stadium in Diyagama yesterday.
Nimali set a new record of 10.44.92 secs in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event eclipsing the record of 10.49.15 which stood to the name of W.P.E.K. Dulakshi which was set last year.
But even then it was no where near the best timing of Nimali where she achieved a timing of 10.31.26 sec at the Junior Nationals Championships that was held last month at the same venue.
Apart from that five other finals were worked during the day with two in the morning session and three in the evening. The women’s long jump event was the first final to be worked off for the day with Navy’s N.C.D. Piyadharshani taking the gold medal with a leap of 6.15m.
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| Shehan Ambepitiya (851) in action at the National Athletics Championships yesterday. |
The women’s discus throw final was the second in the day where Sonali Weerasekera of Air Force prevailed when she hurled the discus to a throw of 41.96m. In the afternoon session Shehan Ambepitiya, representing the Navy, had little difficulty in brushing off the challenge of his opponents in the men’s 200m event which he won with a timing of 21.20sec.
Shehan who did not put in much effort in the heats (where he had a timing of 22.00 secs) gave his opponents little chance with a much better performance. The women’s 200m event saw R.M.C.S. Rasnayake of Air Force with a timing of 24.12 sec take the gold medal pushing team mate Buddika into second place.
The women’s 10000m which was the last final to be worked off the day saw Navy’s B.G.L.A. Bogahawatte overcoming veteran and experienced D.A. Inoka to take the gold medal.
The meet was dominated by athletes from the three Forces. Army dominated in the two heats of the men’s 5000m event with only Air Force, Lanka Lions SC and Navy being able to put in some pressure.
It was the same in the two heats of men’s 100m hurdles as the forces held sway with K.P.H. Nimal of Navy and K.W.S. Randeeva of Army hitting the ribbon first.
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| Sonali Weeraskera of Air Force who won the women’s discuss event in action. |
The three Forces again shared honours in the six heats of the men’s 800m event with Army wining three, Air Force two and Navy one while athletes from the Air Force and Army won the two heats of the women’s 800m.
Over 850 athletes around the country were in the fray with majority of over 700 being from the three forces and the Police which also included some athletes from Malaysia.
The second day’s proceeding of the championship is scheduled to begin at 8.00 a.m. and 18 finals are scheduled to be worked off for the day. - MSA
Results:
Finals – Long Jump (Women) 1. N.C.D. Piyadharshani (Navy) 6.15m. 2. D.D. Mohottala (Air Force) 5.84m. 3. W.M.G.G. Weerakoon (Air Force) 5.76m.
Discuss Throw (Women) 1. Sonali Weerasekera (Air Force) 41.96m. 2. Anusha Danabali Silva (Army) 41.72m. 3. Amanthi Silva (Sri Lanka School AA) 39.31m.
3000m Steeplechase (Women) 1. W.K.L.A. Nimali (Air Force) 10.44.92 sec (New Meet Record). 2. Melinder Kaver (Malaysia) 11.01.61. 3. T.G.N.T. Wickramasinghe (Army) 11.18.14.
200m (Men) 1. Shehan Ambepitiya (Navy) 21.20 sec. 2. S.M. Weerasooriya (Navy) 21.59. 3. A.S. Pathirana (Police) 21.67.
200m (Women) 1. R.M.C. Rasnayake (Air Force) 24.12 sec. 2. H.S.P. Buddika (Air Force) 24.44. 3. Nadeeshani Waragoda (Police) 24.76.
10000m (Women) 1. B.G.L.A. Bogahawatte (Navy) 36.18.63 sec. 2. D.A. Inoka (Army) 37.33.47. 3. Nilanthi Lanka Ariyadasa (Ratnapura DAA) 37.51.39.
Finals – Long Jump (Women) 1. N.C.D. Piyadharshani (Navy) 6.15m. 2. D.D. Mohottala (Air Force) 5.84m. 3. W.M.G.G. Weerakoon (Air Force) 5.76m.
Discuss Throw (Women) 1. Sonali Weerasekera (Air Force) 41.96m. 2. Anusha Danabali Silva (Army) 41.72m. 3. Amanthi Silva (Sri Lanka School AA) 39.31m.
3000m Steeplechase (Women) 1. W.K.L.A. Nimali (Air Force) 10.44.92 sec (New Meet Record). 2. Melinder Kaver (Malaysia) 11.01.61. 3. T.G.N.T. Wickramasinghe (Army) 11.18.14.
200m (Men) 1. Shehan Ambepitiya (Navy) 21.20 sec. 2. S.M. Weerasooriya (Navy) 21.59. 3. A.S. Pathirana (Police) 21.67.
200m (Women) 1. R.M.C. Rasnayake (Air Force) 24.12 sec. 2. H.S.P. Buddika (Air Force) 24.44. 3. Nadeeshani Waragoda (Police) 24.76.
10000m (Women) 1. B.G.L.A. Bogahawatte (Navy) 36.18.63 sec. 2. D.A. Inoka (Army) 37.33.47. 3. Nilanthi Lanka Ariyadasa (Ratnapura DAA) 37.51.39. |
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