Lakshani erases 35-year-old Junior National record

 By Susil Premalal

Shanika Lakshani, a rising 18-year-old athlete from Holy Cross College, Gampaha shattered a 35-year-old Junior National record in the Women’s 1,500m event on the final day of the 98th National Athletics Championship concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Competing against National and International stars, the teenager finished the race in fourth-place clocking an impressive time of four minutes 33.40s, improving on the time of 4:35.70s set by Sriyani Dhammika Menike at the Junior Nationals in 1985.

Gayanthika Abeyratne clinched the National title, clocking 4:17.58s followed by Nilani Ratnayaka (4:21.28s) and Nimali Liyanarachchi (4:28.13s). 

There were no Sri Lanka records in the last two days of the competition. However, a significant feature during the championship was the defeat of some elite and National Pool athletes.

The reigning National champions in the 1,500m Men, Hemantha Kumara, Ishara Sandaruwan (pole vault) and Sreshan Dhananjaya (triple jump) were some of the National Poolists who failed to win their events.

Meanwhile, according to the qualifying standards set by Sri Lanka Athletics, 20 have qualified to be in the Elite Pool and 17 in the National Pool.