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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Amarasekera to run on Tuesday Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Finland HELSINKI, Aug. 6 - Sri Lanka's Prasanna Amarasekera is the highest ranked Asian competitor among 57 sprinters lined up for the men's 400m event of the 10th IAAF World Championships which began here today. Soldier Amarasekera is the No.1 sprinter in the start list and 27th overall amongst the 57 sprinters rated on their entry timings. The promising short distance runner from Sri Lanka Army and coached by former Asian Games gold medallist Sunil Gunawardena, is the only Sri Lankan to get a direct qualification under 'A' grade category for the IAAF World Championships. Sri Lanka athletic team arrived here last evening after a hectic air travel which lasted more than a day, flying to the Finnish capital via India and Germany. But they took no time in settling down at the Athletes Village and got into immediate training this morning. Amarasekera had some light work outs this morning under cold winds but the skies over the Helsinki Olympic Stadium here looked brighter as the day progressed. Sri Lanka national coach, Lakshman de Alwis, who is accompanying the team along with S. Gunaratnam from Kilinochchi, is keeping a lose eye on the athletes. Amarasekera is our trump card and he has a very good entry timing. But there is a big competition in men's 400m event as usual and he will have to expect tough challenge. Nevertheless, this is going to be a big experience and exposure to him. That should put his in good shape for next month's Asian Championships in Korea, the veteran Sri Lanka coach said. The Lankan sprinter who ousted compatriot and Asian Championship double gold medallist Rohan Pradeep Kumara to make it to Finland, will run in the first round heats on the men's 400m event scheduled for 1.40 pm (4.40 pm SL time) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the two quickest women sprint hurdlers of 2005, Michele Perry and Olympic champion Joanna Hayes, have returned to their 'first love' event after years of successful, though not so spiritually rewarding competition, respectively at the Heptathlon and the 400m Hurdles. The 28-year-old Hayes, the world No. 1 in women's 100m hurdles and the second quickest of this season (12.47), came into the 2004 Olympic summer better known as a 400m hurdler with a 54.57 personal best, than a sprint specialist. She possessed a more than respectable personal best of 12.67 at the start of 2004, and had previously narrowly missed a spot on the 2000 USA Olympic Team, at both events, placing 4th in the 400m Hurdles and 5th in the 100m Hurdles. But Hayes says 100m hurdles has always been her 'first love'. Meanwhile, the U.S. squad in the men's Shot Put is the world's finest, this year led by three-time World champion John Godina. The 33-year-old two-time Olympic medallist produced the season's furthest throw, a 22.20 effort and personal best in late May prior to his third place finish at the U.S. Championships. The winner at the U.S. selection meet, Christian Cantwell, has had a solid season as well, reaching 21.67 in Seville, and will be looking for an outdoor title to go along with his indoor crown from 2004. Always a fierce competitor, Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic and World championships silver medallist, has his sights set on an appearance on the elusive top podium step. Ethiopia will be looking to repeat their podium sweep in women's 10,000m from Edmonton 2001, and with four competitors entered, the possibility cannot be ruled out. Their charge will be led by reigning champion Berhane Adere, who followed up her Edmonton runner-up showing by winning in Paris with a sensational 30:04.18 performance in the finest women's 10,000m race ever. Her greatest challenge is set to be Tirunesh Dibaba, this year's double World Cross Country champion and the season's fastest over the distance (30:15.67). Werknesh Kidane and Dibaba's older sister, Ejagayou, fill-out the tough and extremely disciplined Ethiopian brigade. |
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