Rumeshika’s time is the fastest by a Sri Lankan female after Susanthika Jayasinghe’s retirement

Teenage sprinter Rumeshika Kumari Rathnayake took her golden run to Asian level as she clocked a personal best of 11.72 seconds in the semi-finals of the 100m and advanced to the finals at the 21st Asian Athletics championship which started at Wuhan, China yesterday. Rumeshika’s time is the fastest by a Sri Lankan female after Susanthika Jayasinghe’s retirement.
“It was my first senior international meet, as my target was 11.6 seconds and hope I could achieve that in the finals,” said a jubilant Rathnayake after the race.
She clocked 11.87 seconds in the heats and finished in third position to advance for the semi-finals before clocking the amazing personal best as she will compete in the finals today.
Meanwhile, in the men’s race Himasha Eashan was placed 4th in the semifinals with a time of 10.52 seconds and did not advance to the finals. Eashan clocked 10.73 seconds in the heats and finished fourth to advance for semis.
Chandrika Rasnayake kept Sri Lanka medal hopes alive as she finished first in the 400m women’s heat and advanced to the finals.
Rasnayake from Air Force clocked modest 54: 18 seconds and will compete in the sixth lane at finals. Indian Poovamma Raju is the favourite for the title as she clocked 52.94 seconds in the heats where Asian Games record holder Bahrain’s Oluwakemi Adekoya did not take part in the 400m.
Rasnayake will compete in her finals at 1:30 p.m. Sri Lanka time even though she doesn’t seems to be in her best form this time.
In other events Sri Lankan 1500m runners Chinthaka Somawardene finished in a disappointing 10th position with a time of 3: 52.68. While 400m runner Kalinga Kumarage ended his journey in the individual event as he clocked a disappointing 47.56 seconds and finished fourth in the heats.
The veteran long distance runner Chaminda Wijekoon will be on the track today for the men’s 5000m, while Men’s 4X100m relay team also will be in the action in the morning. Women’s 400m hurdle ND Wickramasinghe will compete in her 400m hurdle heats and Rumeshika and Chandrika are set to run 100m and 400m finals.