Sri Lankan athletes won two medals at the Asian Junior Athletics Championship now being held in Dubai.
The first to win a medal was Madushani Herath of Nannapura MV, Bibile who won a silver medal in the women’s triple jump with her personal best on Wednesday (24).
Madushani cleared a distance of 13.01 metres in her penultimate attempt behind a jumper from Uzbekistan who cleared 13 metres thrice. They were the only two athletes able to clear the 13-metre mark.
Madushani Herath
Herath is only the second Sri Lankan athlete to win a medal in the women’s triple jump at an Asian Junior Athletics Championship.
The youngsters who made up the under-20 mixed 4x400m relay team did well to win a bronze medal in the final held on Friday. Their performance was 3:28.18 their best effort.
The relay team comprised Jathya Kirulu of Mahinda College Galle, Theminda Rajapakse of Maliyadewa College, Jithma Wijethunga of Lyceum IS Wattala and Nuhansa Kodituwakku from Musaeus College.
The men’s 4x100m relay team established a new Under-20 Sri Lanka record at the Asian Junior championship after entering the final with a time of 40.32 while the previous record was 40.37 achieved in 2014.
The team members comprised K Thamel, Induwara Weerarathna, RI Vidushan and Merone Wijesinghe.
Meanwhile, Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Ayomal Akalanka who was included in the team at the eleventh hour qualified for the finals of the men’s 400 metres hurdles. Sri Lanka fielded a team of 17 athletes including four relay teams for the four-day regional event.
