Abisheka, Avishka, Nethan break 800 metres meet records

by Reemus Fernando

South Asian Junior Athletics Championship gold medallists Tharushi Abisheka and Savindu Avishka and Rahula College Matara athlete Nethan Willaddara smashed 800 metres meet records in their respective age categories while Chanaka Ekanayake and Ayesh Kapugedara defended the 800 metres bastion for Ratnayake Central in the Under 20 boys’ event on day two morning at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

Abisheka led from the start to finish to break Shanika Lakshani’s 2019 meet record as she stopped the clock at two minutes and 10.15 seconds to win the Under 18 girls’ 800 metres. The Wickramabahu Central College, Gampola athlete’s feat will now stand as the fastest performance by a girl at these championships in any age category. Abisheka’s feat surpassed the Ratnayake Central athlete Dilshi Kumarasinghe’s 2018 Under 20 meet record (2:12.67 secs) as well.

It was also her second title after having bagged the 3,000 metres gold medal on day one.

Savindu Avishka shattered Ratnayake Central athlete Harsha Karunaratne’s 2017 meet record in the Under 18 boys’ 800 metres as he returned a time of 1:53.66 seconds to win.

Willaddara, meanwhile, slashed half a second off the meet record to win the Under 16 boys’ 800 metres as top three athletes clocked sub two minutes.

Ratnayake Central have been dominating 800 metres at these championships and a majority of meet records of this discipline are written against the names of their athletes. But yesterday, they were denied titles in the Under 16 and Under 18 age categories by athletes from elseware. However, when their bastion seemed to be crumbling Chanaka Ekanayake and Ayesh Kapugedara resisted baging the gold and silver in the Under 20 boys’ 800 metres.