Athletics: Three athletes qualify for IAAF Junior World Athletic Championships

Three athletes qualified for the IAAF Junior World Athletic Championships to be held in Poland in July 2016 at the end of the third day of the 54th Junior Nationals Athletic Championships held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex Diyagama. 

L.P.G. Dhananjaya (St. Joseph Vas College Wennappuwa) and L.W. Chamal Kumarasiri (D.S. Senanayake National School Mirigama) qualified from the Under-20 Triple Jump. 

The qualifying standard for the IAAF event is 15.60 metres. 

Dhanjaya cleared 15.78 metres while Chamal Kumarasiri cleared 15.63 metres to qualify. 

Udith Chandrasena of Maris Stella College Negombo qualified from the 400 metres hurdles Under-20 category returning a time of 52.22 seconds. 

The IAAF qualifying standard is 53.20 seconds. 

The Sri Lanka record was lowered by Harshani Samudra Kumari Dharmaratne in the under 20 pole vault event clearing a height of 3.34 metres. 

The old record by Anoma Karunawansa stood at 3.33 metres set up in 2015. 

By Saturday (14) nine meet records were set up. 

They are A.V.G.A. Ravi Sanka (Ratnapura Seevali) under-20 boys, 110 mtrs hurdles event who finished the event in 14.19 secs. D.M.S. Kumarasinghe (Walala A. Ratnayake MV) under-18 girls 800 mtrs with a time of 2 mts. 13.79 secs. R. Nadeesha (SL Army) under-23 women 800 mtrs, with a time of 2.09.26. S.P.A. Dharshana (Akuranboda Weerakeppitipola MV) under-18 men’s 400 mtrs hurdles returning a time of 52.92 secs. Udith Chandrasena (Maris Stella College Negombo) under-20 men’s 400 mtrs hurdles with a time of 52.22 secs. Shalika Santush (St. Benedict’s College Kotahena) under-16 boys 200 mtrs with a time of 22.55 secs. S. Ratwatte (Trinity College Kandy) under-20 boys,200 mtrs. 21.73 secs. K.S.L. Wickremasinghe (SL Army) under-23 men’s 200 mtrs with a time of 21.60 secs and L.P.G. Dhananjaya (Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa) under-20 boys long jump clearing 7.41 mtrs. 

From the performances of this meet 18-22 athletes will take part in the 17th Asian Junior Athletics Championships to be held in Vietnam from June 2 to 6.