Rumeshika recreates athletic history
View(s):Teenage sensation Rumeshika Kumari Ratnayake of St. Joseph’s Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kegalle became the ‘Queen of Athletics’ when she battered two national records established 21 years ago by legendary sprinter Damayanthi Dharsha at the recently concluded 35th Junior National Athletics Championship held the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama.
Coming out with flying colours this young lass in the 100 metres event lowered the record of Dharsha set in 1993 as a schoolgirl from Ladies’ College (12.0secs) with a new time of 11.80secs. In the 200 metres event Rumeshika with a time of 24.12secs smashed the record held by the former Asian Games Gold medallist as her second new mark. The interesting feature of her achievements was that Rumeshika Kumari lowered Dharsha’s 100 metre record twice when she first timed 11.85secs in the heats and clocking 11.80secs in the final run.
This sterling performance by the young lass from Kegalle signalled the appearance of another Susanthika Jayasinghe who won a silver medal in the Sydney Olympics at the turn of the century. Another feature of the meet was Sri Lanka Army’s Milan Dissanayake equaling the record set by ace high jumper Manjula Kumara of 2.15M.
23 new national records were established with two equalled records is a good sign for local track and field and will infuse new blood to the ailing Sri Lanka Athletic Association.
Gateway College sprinter Nidula Jayawardena and M.A.M. Hamzan of Lumbini Vidyalaya reached the qualifying standards for the IAAF World Youth Championship in Boys 400 metres at this meet.
Another Gateway sprinter Asiri Wijesekera, who was expected to produce a record breaking performance was given a shock in the U18 boys 100 metres by Maris Stella athlete Chanuka Sandeepa and Nalandian L.S.N. Perera. – LR
Following are the new meet records established at the Junior Nationals 2015:
Girls U20-Pole Vault: G.W.H.S.K. Dharmaratne (Walala A. Ratnayake Central College, Manikhinna) 3.10M, Aniththa Jegateeswaran (Mahajana College, Jaffna) 3.10M
Boys U-23 Triple Jump: U.P.A.N. Karunasinghe Sri Lanka Army) 15.95M
Boys U-20 Hammer Throw: W.M. Niyomal (unattached) 33.02M
Boys U-18 Pole Vault: K. Napthalijoyson (Arunodaya College, Alaveddy) 4.20M, S. Dilaksan (Mahajana College, Jaffna) 4.20M
Girls U-16 3000M Race Walk: A.B. Dilani Lakshika (Dambadeniya Central College) 18 ;22.19
Boys U-23 Pole Vault: M.H.I. Sandaruwan (Sri Lanka Air Force) 4.70M
Girls U-18 5000M Race Walk: K. Kanakeshwary (Vavuniya District AA) 28:31.03
Girls U-23 10,000M Race Walk: P.B. Gayani (Sri Lanka Army) 55:07.04
Girls U-20 Triple Jump: H.D. Vidusha Lakshani (Newsted Girls College, Negombo) 13.12M
Girls U-23 Triple Jump: K.A.S. Dulanjani (SLAF) 12.76M
Boys U-16 Long Jump: Premodh Madubash (Maris Stella College, Negombo) 6.83M
Girls U-20 800M: K.M. Nishanthi Dilhani (Lumbini M.V., Col 5) 2:12.33
Boys U-16 800M: D.M.H. Sandaruwan (Ratnayake Central College, Walala) 2:00.59
Girls U-20 200M: Rumeshika Kumari Ratnayake (S. Joseph’s BMV, Kegalle) 24:12
Boys U-18 200M: A. Wijesekera (Gateway College, Colombo) 21:18
Girls U-18 400M Hurdles: D.M.Y. Dulanjali (Ambagamuwa Central College, Udabuthgama) 1:02.12
Boys U-18 400M Hurdles: U. Chandrasena (Maris Stella Collge, Negombo) 53.38
Boys U-23 400M Hurdles: E.S.M. Fernando (SL Army) 52.70
Boys U-16 400M: Abishek Alwis (Maris Stella College, Negombo) 49.91
Boys U-18 400M: N. Jayawardena (Gateway College, Colombo) 49.05
Girls U-20 100M: R.M. Rumeshika Kumari Ratnayake (S. Joseph’s Balika MV, Kegalle) 11.80
Boys U-16 100M: R.P. Sahan Thenuka Rajapaksa (S. Benedict’s College, Col 13) 11.11
Boys U-20 100M: T.S.P.S. Ekanayake (S.L. Army) 10.79