Manjula leaps to a new meet record

Sri Lanka's high jump record holder Manjula Kumara set a new meet record but missed the Sri Lanka record by a hair's breath at the high jump final of the 38th National Sports Festival held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lanka's high jump record holder Manjula Kumara clears 2.3 metres to set a new meet record at the 38th National Sports Festival at Sugathadasa Satadium yesterday. Picture by Sulochana Gamage.

L A Nimali (359) defeated Eranga Dulakshi (365) to set a new meet record in the 400m hurdles event. Nimali clocked 1:00.85 at the 38th National Games held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Picture by Sulochana Gamage.

The Southern Province athlete leaped 2.23 metres improving his own record of 2.20 metres set in the last year's national games in Colombo. The Southern Asian Games gold medalist attempted amidst spectators' cheers to break the Sri Lanka record of 2.27 metres set by him in 2004 but was unable to clear that mark, which was established at the National Sports Festival.

The two time Asian Gold medalist attempted thrice to clear the 2.28 height to qualify for next year's IAAF, which will be held in Moscow, Russia.

“I need competitiveness to improve my performance in future and hopefully to qualify for IAAF next year. It is easy to me if I can participate in the competitive events in USA,” said the 28-year-old lanky athlete.

National athletic championship record holder Eranga Dulakshi suffered a shock defeat at the hands of L A Nimali, who won the 400m hurdle event in 1:00.85 seconds. The Southern Province hurdler broke the previous record of 50.17 second set by N G Jayatilleke of Sabaragamuwa Province in 2011. Jayatilleke was unable to secure a place as she was the fourth in 1:03.65 seconds. It was another shock defeat for Sri Lanka Shot Putt record holder Nadeeka Muthunayake as T K Fernando of Western Province won the gold medal with a 14.06 metres ahead of Nadeeka's 13.85m. Muthunayake holds the Sri Lanka record of 14.88m set in 2008 in Colombo.

So far, Western Province lead the medals tally with 77 gold medals while Central Province having won 35 golds and North Western Province in the third place with 26 gold medals.

Eleven final events were concluded yesterday the second day of the three-day National Sports Festival. Today, the final day, there will be 15 final events starting with 10000 women's final at 7am at the Sugathadasa Stadum. Sports Minister Mahindanda Aluthgamage and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena will be participating at the closing ceremony of the 38th edition of the national games.

High Jump: 1 Manjula Kumara (Southern Province) 2.23m, 2 M D Dissanayake (Western) 2.15m, 3 S Subhashitha (Western) 2.04m.

Discus: 1 G D Chathuranga (Southern) 43.00m, 2 Nishantha Herjinas (Western) 40.48m, 3 D Danushka (Western) 40.12m.

200m: R M Rajeskhan (Eastern) 21.37sec, 2 A S Pathirana (Central) 21.37sec, 3 R Jayawardena (Western) 21.78sec.

Long Jump: 1 M S Dissanayake (North Western) 7.59m, 2 J P Wimalasiri (Central) 7.22m, 3 A E Sanjeewa (Central) 7.16m.

400m Hurdles: 1 N J Gunatilleke (Sabaragamuwa) 51.70sec, 2 P de Silva (Western) 51.95sec, 3 J L Prasannajith (Western) 52.29sec.

Pole Vault: K K Balasooriya (North Western) 4.60m, 2 C P Senaratne (North Western) 4.50m, 3 M R Sampath (North Western) 4.50m.

400m Hurdles: 1 L A Nimali (Southern) 1:00.85sec, 2 Eranga Dulakshi (Southern) 1:01.21sec, 3 I S Dayananda (Sabaragamuwa) 1:02.67sec.

Shot Putt: 1 T K Fernando (Western) 14.06m, 2 Nadeeka Muthunayake (North Western) 13.85m, 3 S K Weerasekera (North Central) 11.96m.

Javelin Throw: 1 L N Lakmali (Southern) 55.45m, 2 N D Lekamge (Sabaragamuwa) 52.59m, 3 H M Anupama (North Western) 44.19m.

200m: 1 Y N Abeywickrama (Central) 24.88sec, 2 D L Fernando (Western) 25.23sec, 3 D P Dayaratne (Sabaragamuwa) 25.31sec.

Long Jump: 1 D D Erandi (Southern) 5.81m, 2 C D Priyadarshani (Western) 5.80m, 3 H T Kumari (Western) 5.77m.