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Promising middle-distance athlete Tharushi Abhisheka of Lyceum International School, Wattala made headlines after setting a new Under-20 women’s 1500m national record with a time of 4:28.35 at the Asian Under-20 Athletic Championship selection trials held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama last week.
Her record-breaking performance secured her qualification for the Asian Junior Athletic Championships, scheduled to be held in Hong Kong from May 28 to 31. Tharushi also holds the Under-18 national record in the same event and has recently impressed on the international stage by winning multiple medals.
In addition to Tharushi’s achievement, two more junior national records were set during the trials in Diyagama.
Paranthaman Abishalini of Chavakachcheri Hindu College broke the women’s pole vault record with a leap of 3.50m, surpassing the previous mark of 3.41m set by Aniththa Jegatheeshwaran in 2016.
Hesara Jayasinghe (St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa) set up a new shot-put record with 16.92m. He shattered previous record of 16.69m set by Jayavi Ranhida Alwis in 2024. However Hesara fell short of the 18m qualifying standard for the Asian Junior Championships.
Meanwhile Omel Sashintha of St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya clinched the victory in the 400m with a dazzling 45.79 seconds, breaking into the elite sub-46 second club. Only seven other Sri Lankans have ever achieved this feat. Omel is now the youngest athlete to do so. He also became just the second junior to dip under 46 seconds, following champion middle distance athlete Aruna Darshana’s 45.78 seconds in 2018
In the men’s 400m final, five athletes were able to surpass the Asian Junior qualification standard of 47.60 seconds. Apart from Omel Sashintha four others Sadew Rajakaruna (46.39 sec), Thisehn Ravindu (46.83 sec), Iresh Bogoda (47.45 sec), and I. Edirisinghe (47.52 sec) were qualified with their achievements for the Asian Junior Athletic Championships.
Omel Shashintha and Sadew Rajakaruna (St Joseph Vaz Wennapuwa) both met the tougher World Junior Championship standard of 47.40 seconds, strengthening Sri Lanka’s medal hopes in both the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay. The World Junior Athletic Championship is scheduled from August 5-9 in Oregon, USA.
