Only two athletes reached qualifying standards for the Asian Games when Sri Lanka Athletics conducted a selection trial for three major Asian track and field events at Diyagama on Tuesday (25).
They are middle distance runner Gayanthika Abeyratne of the Navy and javelin thrower Dilhani Lekamge of the Army.
A renowned middle distance runner, Abeyratne ran the 1500 metres race in a time of 4:12.05 seconds that can book her ticket to the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China in September.
Lekamge threw the javelin to a distance of 58.87 metres to reach the set qualifying standard of 58 metres at the meet. However, her personal best effort was 59.41 metres achieved in 2022.
Though, there were no big named athletes to smash records they came close to achieving their personal best efforts in their respective events.
However, Nadeesha Ramanayake and Rajitha Rajakaruna achieved their personal best in the 400 metres event. Ramanayake clocked 52.80 in the 400 metres event to produce her personal best effort.
Rajakaruna of the Army produced a late surge to finish first in the same event for men in a time of 46.20 seconds.
In the sprint event Rumeshika Ratnayake produced a sub 24 seconds in the 200 metres event and fell short by milliseconds of the qualifying mark.
However, she went on to win the 100 metres in a time of 11.96 seconds.
National women’s long jumper Sarangi Silva won the event clearing a distance of 6.42 metres. She was seven centimeters short of the qualifying standard.