A record set 32 years ago has finally been broken by a 17-year old girl studying at Gateway College in Rajagiriya who did not wish to hide the fact that even until the night before she had no motivated interest to do the 200 metres that pushed her into the annals of Sri Lankan athletics.
But how far is Shelinda Jansen prepared to go as the country still struggles to find a 200 metres champion since the days of Susanthika Jayasinghe. Will Jansen fall prey to politics or is she really in safe hands.
“To be very honest I did not prefer the 200 metres. Even the night before (the record) I was thinking whether I should actually do the 200 or not. My concentration was on the 100 metres and hoping for a berth in the 4X100 at the Junior Asian Championships”, Jansen revealed in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
But like it or not, Jansen will see many other girls lining up to beat her in the 200 metres while the experts will be studying her every move on the track hoping that she’ll be a safe bet for Sri Lanka in the future.
Jansen clocked 24.98 seconds to wipe away the record of 25.02 set by Tania Van Heer in 1986 at the Junior Nationals.
She was initially discovered by her doting mother when she ran at an in-house sport meet for her first school, Hillwood College in Kandy at just five years of age before enrolling at Gateway College in Rajagiriya and has everything to look forward to.
Her first coach was Niluka Bandara and she is now under the guidance of veteran Sunil Gunawardena and his wife Badra.
Jansen believes she made the right decision to join Gateway College as she was able to overcome many challenges after making Colombo her home.
“It’s a wonderful experience to be part of the Gateway College athletics team. The memories made would always remain with me. I have to thank Dr. Harsha Alles (Chairman of Gateway College) for all the support rendered to me since I started schooling here and all the teachers who back me”, Jansen said.
Jansen does admit she has to hold her nerves just before the gun-shot at the starting blocks as she can be completely isolated from everyone.
“No matter how much training you have done, I get a bit scared and nervous before the start”, she conceded.
Who then is her role model? “I look up to all my coaches and above all, God”, she replied when asked from where and whom does she get her inspiration?
Jansen has been taking part in major athletic events since 2010 and the one achievement that she treasures the most will be breaking the 32-year old record last week and finishing first in the 100 metres.
She has also been selected for the Junior South Asian Games in Colombo next week.
Jansen’s two brothers, Heshan and Rukshan played football and rugby and studied at Kingswood College which makes her believe it all runs in the family genes.