Indrajith and Geethani keep their marathon dreams alive
Anuradha Indrajith Cooray
For the XXXI Summer Olympics which will commence from August 5th to 21st, 207 nations will vie for honours in 28 disciplines. A total number of 8,235 athletes have already confirmed their participation. But the total number is likely to increase, as the last qualifying date for athletics is 12 July. Sri Lanka’s nine member team has confirmed its participation, yet, that too may increase if any one qualifies during 94th athletic national championship which will be concluded today at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama.
Sri Lanka is participating in Six sporting disciplines in the upcoming Rio Olympics. They are athletics, swimming, badminton, judo, rifle shooting and weight lifting. In the Sri Lanka Olympic team only four are qualified. They are Anuradha Indrajith Cooray (Marathon – Men), Niluka Geethani Rajasekara (Marathon — Women ), Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin) and Matthew Abeysinghe (Swimming). The rest of the members are wild card entries. They are Niluka Karunaratne (Badminton), Chamara Nuwan Darmaratne (Judo), Mangala Samarakoon (Rifle Shooting), Sudesh Peiris (Weight Lifting ) and Kimko Raheem (Swimming).
In Sri Lanka Olympic history, it will be the first time that a male and female marathon runner have qualified. The marathoner Anuradha Indrajith Cooray is participating in the Olympics for the third time, while Rajasekara is the first Sri Lanka woman participating at an Olympic marathon event. Anuradhas’ first Olympic marathon was the Athens Olympics in 2004. He clocked 2 hrs 19 min and 24 secs and ended up the marathon. Anuradha did not qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. But he qualified again for the London Olympics in 2012. He clocked 2 hrs 20 min and 41 secs and ended 55th.
Currently Anuradha is employed at Greggs, London. Anuradha’s coach nominated for Olympics is Upali Wickremasinghe. He is training in Kenya at present and will arrive in Sri Lanka on 29 July. According to National Olympic Committee (NOC) secretary Maxwell De Silva this may be his last Olympics and probably he will retire at the end of this year. Then in famous London Marathon, which is held every year, Cooray participated six times. He participated for the first time in 2005. He finished 28th with a timing of 2 hrs 20 min and 16 secs. And in 2009, he finished 22nd with a finish time of 2 hrs 21 min and 02 secs.
In 2011, he finished 27th with a time of 2 hrs, 21 min and 12 secs. In 2012, he improved his performance to finish 23rd with a timing of 2 hrs, 17 min and 50 secs. Then in 2013, he further improved his standings to finish 16th with a timing of 2 hrs 17 min and 53 secs. And finally in 2015 London Marathon, he climbed to 14th place with an improved timing of 2 hrs 13 min 47 secs. This was his best performance at London Marathon. With this superb timing he was selected for the Rio Olympics. The Olympic qualifying standard for Marathon was 2 hrs 17 min and 00secs. Anuradha in South Asian Games (SAG), in year 2004, he finished first to win the gold by clocking 2 hrs 16 min and 38 secs.
This year SAG in India, he missed the Gold Medal by just minutes to take the Silver with a timing of 2 hrs 15 min and 19 secs. He participate in one Asian game marathon in Incheon, Korea in 2014. He finished in the 6th place with a timing of 2 hrs 15 min and 51 scs. Anuradha, also participated in World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in 2005. But he did not finished the marathon. In 2015 World championships in Beijing, China he finished 29th with a timing of 2 hrs 25 min and 04 secs. Anuradha Indrajith Cooray, was born on March 24 1978. He had his entire education at Divulapitiya Central. At school his two events was 5000m and 10000m.
He later joined Sri Lanka Army. Under the guidance of late Brigadier Perry Liyanage, he was trained to become a marathon runner. Cooray is now presently based in London, United Kingdom. Cooray is the 7th marathon runner to represent Sri Lanka in Olympics. The first was Linus Dias in Rome Olympics in 1960. Then in Mexico City Olympics of 1968, it was R.A.Wimalasena Perera. In 1972 Munich Olympics – It was famed S.L.B Rosa. In Seoul Olympics of 1988, V.K.L.Samarasinghe took part. In 1992 Barcelona Olympics it was K.A.Karunaratne. Finally In 2000 Sydney Olympics, Sarath Prasanna Gamage competed. Out of all these Sri Lankan marathon runners, S.L.B. Rosa could not finish.
When you take the history of Marathon in Sri Lanka, the first ever marathon was held in year 1959. It was conducted by Ceylon Track and Feild Club (CT and FC). The winner was Linus Dias with a timing of 2 hrs 40 min and 53 secs, and he was the first marathon runner to compete at Olympics in 1960. Sri Lanka women’s marathon runner for Olympics, Niluka Geethani Rajasekara is a product Walala A. Rathnayake Central College. Her first coach was Susantha Fernando. She competed first 1500m in athletics as a short distance runner. She shifted to run long distance running only in last year. Her record in marathon was participating last years SAG in India.
She won the silver medal with a timing of 2 hrs 15 min and 47 secs. She is presently training in Nuwara Eliya under the watchful eyes of her husband Janaka, who is the personal coach. Her first marathon competition was Lanka Sports Reisen (LSR) in 2014 where she recorded a time of 2 hrs 47 min 55secs. It was a Sri Lankan record. In Hong Kong marathon of 2015, she timed 2 hrs 40 min 07secs and she renewed the existing Sri Lankan record. From this timing she qualified for the Olympics. The Olympic qualifying standard was 2 hrs 42 min 00 secs. Prior to participating at SAG this year, she had a five week training in Kenya.
Rajasekara stated.” I am happy that I am participating in Olympics with a qualified standard and not a wild card entry. I am also happy that I am the first Sri Lankan woman to participate in an Olympic. Though I was qualified, I have gained anything from any body. When I was qualified, it was a surprise for everybody. All I have to say is only my employee Sri Lanka Army took total care of me.”
Anuradha Indrajith Cooray
Born: 24th March 1978 (38 years)
2003 Singapore Marathon Singapore 4th 2:21:16
2004 South Asian Games Islamabad 1st 2:16:38
Olympic Games Athens 30th 2:19:24
2005 London Marathon London 28th 2:20:16
World Championships Helsinki Did not finish
2009 London Marathon London 22nd 2:21:02
2011 London Marathon London 27th 2:21:12
Pune Marathon Pune, India 10th 2:18:42
2012 London Marathon London 23rd 2:17:50
Olympic Games London 55th 2:20:41
2013 London Marathon London 16th 2:17:53
2014 World Half Marathon Copenhagen 76th 1:05:20 (National Record)
Asian Games Incheon 6th 2:15:51
2015 London Marathon London 14th 2:13:47 (National Record)
World Championships Beijing 29th 2:25:04
2016 South Asian Games Guwahati 2nd 2:15:19
Marathon Sri Lanka All Time Top ten
MEN
2:13:47 Anuradha Indrajith Cooray London 26.04.2015
2:14:31 SLB Rosa Fukuoka 07.12.1975
2:16:00 VKL Samarasinghe Calcutta 22.11.1987
2:17:45 KA Karunaratne London 21.04.1991
2:18:26 A.M.Ajith Bandara Dambulla 10.07.2005
2:19:32 Sarath Prasanna Gamage Kathmandu 26.09.1999
2:20:15 Bandula Samarasinghe Islamabad 24.10.1989
2:22:05 RA Wimalasena Perera Colombo 14.07.1967
2:23:03 Ishan Kumara Wijethilake Dehiattakandiya 13.06.2009
2:23:13 Asela Bandara Mumbai 21.01.2007
WOMEN
2:40:07 Geethani Rajasekara Hongkong 25.01.2015
2:43:34 Hiruni Wijeratne Indianapolis 01.11.2014
2:51:00 KGS Chandrani Beijing 15.10.2006
2:51:52 Mallika Chandrakanthi Singapore 05.12.2004
2:55:47 RA Ruwina Deepani Colombo 07.12.2012
2:56:00 Manjula Kumarasinghe Puttalam 04.06.2011
2:56:16 DA Inoka Wennappuwa 16.06.2001
2:56:46 Sujeewa Nilmini Jayasena Singapore 07.12.2003
2:57:24 MA Chandrawathi Singapore 03.12.2000
2:57:45 BGL Anuradhi Colombo 06.10.2013
World All Time Top Ten
2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto Kenya Berlin 28.09.2014
2:03:13 Emmanuel Mutai Kenya Berlin 28.09.2014
2:03:23 Wilson Kipseng Kenya Berlin 29.09.2013
2:03:38 Patrick Makau Kenya Berlin 25.09.2011
2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia Berlin 28.09.2008
2:04:05 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya Berlin 29.09.2013
2:04:15 Geoffrey Kiprono Kenya Berlin 30.09.2012
2:04:23 Ayele Abshero Ethiopia Dubai 27.01.2012
2:04:27 Duacan Kibet Kenya Rotterdam 05.04.2009
2:04:27 James Kipsang Kenya Rotterdam 05.09.2009
Marathon Best Performances (Records)
MEN
Category Time Record Hoder Country Venue Year
World 2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto Kenya Berlin 2014
Commonwealth 2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto Kenya Berlin 2014
Asia 2:06:16 Toshinari Takayoka Japan Chicago 2002
Africa 2:02:57 Dennis Kimetto Kenya Berlin 2014
Europe 2:06:36 Antonio Pinto Portugal London 2000
2:06:36 Benoit Zwierzchlewski France Paris 2003
Noth American 2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi USA London 2002
Central American 2:07:19 Andres Espinosa Mexico Boston 1994
South American 2:06:05 Ronaldo Da Costa Brazil Berlin 1998
Australia 2:07:51 Rob De Castella Australia Boston 1986
Olympic Games 2:06:32 Samuel Wanijiru Kenya Beijing 2008
Commonwealth Games 2:09:12 Ian Thompson Englnd Christ Church 1974
Asian Games 2:08:21 Nakayama Takeyuki Japan Seoul 1986
South Asian Games 2:15:03 Baikuntha Manadar Nepal Calcutta 1987
World Junior 2:04:32 Tsegaye Mekonnen Ethiopia Dubai 2014
World Youth 2:11:43 Li He China Beijing 2001
World Over 35 2:03:59 Haile Gabrselassie Ethiopia Berlin 2008
World Over 40 2:08:46 Andres Espinosa Mexico Berlin 2003
Sri Lanka 2:13:47 Anuradha Cooray London 2015
WOMEN
Category Time Record Hoder Country Venue Year
World 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe GB London 2003
Commonwealth 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe GB London 2003
Asia 2:19:12 Mizuki Noguchi Japan Berlin 2005
Africa 2:18:37 Mary Keitany Kenya London 2012
Europe 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe GB London 2003
Noth American 2:19:36 Deena Kastor USA London 2006
Central American 2:22:59 Madai Perez Mexico Chicago 2006
South American 2:26:48 Ines Melchor Peru Berlin 2014
Australia 2:22:36 Benita Johnson Australia Chicago 2006
Olympic Games 2:23:07 Tiki Gelana Ethiopia London 2012
Commonwealth Games 2:30:05 Kerryn Ann Macann Australia Manchester 2002
Asian Games 2:21:47 Naoko Takahashi Japan Bangkok 1998
South Asian Games 2:38:10 Satya Bhama India Madras 1995
World Junior 2:20:59 Shure Demise Ethiopia Dubai 2015
World Over 35 2:19:19 Irena Mikitenko Germany Berlin 2008
World Over 40 2:24:54 Irina Mikitenko Germany Berlin 2013
Sri Lanka 2:40:07 Geethani Rajasekara Hong Kong 2015
Performances of Sri Lankan Athletes at the Olympic Games, World Championships,
World Cup & Asian Games in Marathon event
Olympic Games
1960 Rome LC Dias 39th 2:32:12
1968 Mexico RA Wimalasena Perera 51st 2:59:06
1972 Munich SLB Rosa did not finish
1988 Seoul VKL Samarasinghe 65th 2:31:29
1992 Barcelona KA Karunaratne 71st 2:32:26
2000 Sydney Sarath Prasanna Gamage 73RD 2:34:39
2004 Athens Anuradha Indrajith Cooray 31st 2:19:32
World Championships
1987 Rome VKL Samarasinghe 34th 2:28:35
2005 Helsinki Anuradha Indrajith Cooray Did not finish
2015 Beijing Anuradha Indrajith Cooray 29th 2:25:04
Asian Games
1966 Bangkok RA Wimalasena Perera 7th 3:13:47
1978 Bangkok R Seeniwasagam 10th 2:32:24
1990 Beijing KA Karunaratne 4th 2:19:22
1994 Hiroshima KA Karunaratne 9th 2:34:06
2006 Doha AM AjithBandara 15th 2:27:16
2014 Incheon Anuradha Indrajith Cooray 6th 2:15:51
World Cup Marathon
1987 Seoul VKL Samarasinghe 80th 2:23:36
KA Karunaratne 96th 2:26:21
Bandula Samarasinghe 145th 2:45:36
Team Championships – 27th Place
1989 Milan VKL Samarasinghe 33rd 2:17:35
KA Karunaratne 42nd 2:18:55
GVAN Perera 92nd 2:38:35
Team Championships – 20th Place
1991 London KA Karunaratne 79th 2:17:36
VKL Samarasinghe 159th 2:25:09
MW Nawaratne 179th 2:27:23
Team Championships – 22nd