Tharushi Karunarathne is a young and a promising player in the national athletics field. She is still in school. But her talent is high compared to her age. The Youth Observer analyses her talent and her future athletics career.
Last week the second national selection trials to select athletes to take part in the World Athletics U20 championships was held at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa stadium. Tharushi Karunarathne won the 400-metre and the 800-metre events at the trials.
“Being a school athlete I beat two national athletes in one event. I am very happy about it. I hope to improve my timings. I am not satisfied with the times I achieved,” she told Youth Observer.
Tharushi participated in the 400 metres race and finished first beating Nadeesha Ramanayake, the former national champion with a timing of 54.29 seconds. Ramanayaka finished in 54.88 seconds.
“In the heats of the 400-metre race I finished it in 54.36 seconds and was selected to take part in the World Junior Athletics meet. In the first national trial I completed the event in 56.17 seconds,’’ she said.
World Athletics U20 meet
Those who obtain the timings required at the trials will be selected to take part in the world junior athletics meet to be held in August
“I am happy to be selected for the World U20 Athletics meet. It will be held in Santiago de Cali in Colombia, a South American country. I hope to give my best in the race,’’ she said.
She also participated in the 800-metre race in the second national selection trials in Diyagama. Thushani competed with top level athletes such as Dilshi Kumarasinghe and other experienced runners in this event. ‘’I finished that event first with a timing of 2.06.99 minutes,” she said.
“The Sri Lanka Athletic Association informed me that I have qualified to take part in 400 and 800 metres in Colombia. I will be representing the country in two events this time,” she said beaming with happiness.
Last year too she participated in the World Junior Athletic meet. In that event she finished the 800-metre race in 2.10.70 minutes in the heats. However,in the semifinal she obtained a timing of 2.17.82 minutes.
“I have been rated at the 16th place in the world ranking as a junior runner in athletics. It is like a dream come true. However, I saw little progress in this event compared to last year. I finished this event in 2.07.21 minutes last year. Now I have sharpened my skills compared to last year. I hope to develop my running skill further,” she said.
Personal life
Tharushi born in Ududumbara on November 24, 2004. She has one brother and one sister. Brother Harsha is also an athlete and shows his talents as a runner.
“My mother is working in the non academic staff at Chulabaya National College and my father is a driver. We are a respectable family in our village though we are not wealthy. We are a very peaceful family and get on well with our neighbours,” she said.
Her youngest sister is still schooling. Tharushi took to athletics while she was a student at Chulabaya College. Puspha Kumuduni was the first coach to guide her in sports. In the early days she participated in the 100-metre race and long jump.
Following her success in sports she was selected to A. Rathnayake College, Wallala where she began a new journey in athletics.
“I selected the 400 metres and 800 metres in my new school. That changed my sports career very fast. After entering that school I won third place in the national athletic arena. Then I won second place and fourth place in the 400 metres even in the John Tarbet Cup athletic meet.
Then I won gold in the Central Province 400-metre race in 2019. And then I won the 400-metre race and 800-metre race in the John Tarbet Cup meet. I hope to go a long way in athletics. It is my responsibility as an athlete for the country,” she said.
Youth Observer wishes her success in her athletics career.
