Athletics: Steeplechaser Marisstella brings home another gold

Following Aruna Darshana’s record breaking run in the men’s 400m run on Friday (8), women’s steeplechaser Parami Wasanthi Marisstella produced a stunning performance to hoist the Lion flag high in the air with a gold medal winning performance on day three at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships held in Gifu, Japan. 

Seventeen-year-old Parami who hails from Kuliyapitiya Central College clocked a personal best time of 10:21.54 secs on her way to win the title. 

Having run the first 2000m with the bunch, Parami whose personal best stood at 10:37.0secs opened up in the final 1000m to record a comfortable victory. 

In the women’s 800m Dilshi Kumarasinghe clocked a personal best time of 2:04.53secs to clinch bronze medal to take Sri Lanka’s medal tally to six (2 gold, three silver and 1 bronze). 

Her previous best was 2:07.73secs. 

Earlier on Friday Sri Lanka won a gold and three silver medals with 400m sprinter Arun Darshana setting the track on fire with a excellent run. 

Darshana broke one of the oldest championship records at the Asian Junior Championships to win the 400m in 45.79 secs. 

Darshana’s winning time not only broke the championship record of 45.85 that had stood since 1999, but he also improved on his own national junior record of 46.55secs. 

Compatriot Pasindu Kodikara followed more than a second behind to secure a silver in 46.96 secs. 

In the women’s 400m dash, Dilshi Kumarasinghe won silver in 54.03secs while South Asian junior women’s 100m champion Amasha de Silva clocked a personal best of 11.71 secs to snatch silver. 

Sri Lanka will compete in men’s and women’s 4x400 and men’s high jump event today (10).