By Anjana Kaluarachchi
Supun Randeniya and Nimesha Siriwardane were adjudged U-20 best male and female athletes at the conclusion of the 55th Junior Nationals at the Diyagama, Mahinda Rajapaksa stadium yesterday.
While Randeniya established a new meet record in boy’s U-20 110 m hurdles with a time of 14. 22 seconds to qualify for the World Junior meet in Barcelona, Siriwardane made an impressive leap in the girl’s high jump to clear the qualifying mark of 1.80 metres for the World Junior games. Randeniya and Siriwardena will now join Ashantha Kumara (100m) and high jumper Milan Dissanayake who have earlier achived qualifying mark for the World Junior Championships.
However, Indunil Herath of Sri lanka Army failed to meet the qualifying mark of 1:51 seconds for the World Juniors when he clocked 1.51.7 second to win the 800 metres. Herath was tipped as a World Junior prospect ahead of the Junior nationals. He also won the 400 metres for the first time clocking 49.10 seconds.
Thirty-two meet records were shattered during the four-day of high octane competition where 11 new records were established on the final day.
The event which was considered as the final selection trial to pick the Sri Lanka squad for the Asian Junior Championships to be held in Colombo next month saw junior poolist Shivanthi Rathnayake winning the women’s 200m and 400m dashes in style. She clocked 56.00 seconds in the U-20 400m dash, a new junior meet record and then clocked 25.03 seconds to win the 200m dash.
Amanthi Silva of St. Bridget’s convent also established two new meet records in the U-18 girls shot putt and discus throw record, as she won the respective events with ease.
Records
E.U.Fernando of Army (Boys under 23 Triple jump) - 15.60m
Amanthi Silva of St. Bridget’s Covent Colombo (Girls under 18 shot putt) - 11.96M
E.R.Dilrukshi of Air force Girls (Under 23 1500M) - 4.34.62 seconds
Mavsha Ruvinaga of Bandaranayake Colege Mihirigama (Boys under 16 high Jump) - 1.92 m
K.M.Udayanga Prince College Rathnapura (Boys under 18 long jump) - 7.24 M
R.Wickramarathne of Maristella College Negambo (Triple Jump under 16 boys) - 13.40M
Shivanthi Rathnayake St.Joshep Balika Kegalle (Girls under 20 400M) - 56.08sec
A.M.Gunarathne of Air force (Boys under 23 400m) - 47.44 sec
K.H.Eshan of Kaluthara Vidyalaya (Boys under 20 100M) - 10.80 sec
M.K.Kushantha (Boys under 18 1500 metres) - 4.05.77 sec
C.S.Somawadane of Navy (Boys Under 23 1500 Metres) - 3.51.91 sec
