Christine Merril gives Sri Lanka second medal

Sarath PREMATHILAKA from Kobe, Japan

Promising athlete Christine Merril gave Sri Lanka its second medal with a splendid performance on the third day of the 19th Asian Athletic Championships which continued at the Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Japan yesterday.

The USA based athlete went on to win the bronze medal in the women’s 400 metres hurdle event with a timing of 57.30 seconds. Japan’s Satomi Kubkura took the gold with a timing of 56.52 seconds and Qi Yong was placed second with timing of 56.69 seconds.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s Chandrika Subashini and Shehan Ambepitiya also qualified to compete in the finals of the women’s 200 metres and men’s 200 metres events respectively.

Subashini clocked 24.17 seconds in the second heats while Ambepitiya returned a timing of 21.53 seconds to finish second in his heat. Both will participate in the finals schedule for today.

In addition Sri Lanka will compete in the men’s 4X400 metres relay final which is also scheduled for today.