Wijesekera must do the triple jump as well - Pullins

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Japan

ATHLETICS: The American coach of Asian Championship double gold medallist, Manjula Kumara Wijesekera has advised the champion Sri Lanka high jumper to compete in triple jump as well at national level.

Michael Pullins, the athletic coach of Wijesekera at the University of Southern California (USC) told the Lankan champion that he should shoot for the National records in both the High Jump as well as the Triple Jump this year.

This was disclosed by reputed American coach Pullins, who is here in Osaka for the 11th IAAF World Championships with the USA team. Some of Wijesekera’s team mates too competed at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. Jesse Williams represented the USA in high jump, along with Noah Bryant in the shot put.

Both Lionel Larry (400m) and Duane Soloman (800m) are current team members at USC.

Despite his busy schedule here, Pullins gave an exclusive interview to the ‘Daily News’ during which he disclosed several vital facts on Sri Lanka’s champion high jumper Wijesekera who returned to Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago.

Question: How did you come across Manjula Kumara Wijesekera, the Sri Lanka high jump champion?

Answer: I met him while coaching my former Northern California (NCAA) champion David Jaworski in 2003 at a local trackmeet in Los Angeles. That year Jaworski finished the season with only two losses all year and one was to Manjula and that surely got my attention.

Jaworski finished that year not only with a national title but a school record as well jumping 2.26. It was early in the year, I believe mid-February when the meet took place and I knew nothing of Manjula but saw potential in his talent.

Question: How do you analyse Manjula’s talent and the progress he has made?

Answer: Manjula has great potential and has shown signs of doing something really special as an athlete.

He not only has been blessed with great skill but has shown the right attitude for this sport. He has shown technical progress in the high jump but has also shown with time that he may be a great triple jumper as well.

Question: Manjula has not shown much progress during the past one year. What are the reasons for that?

Answer: Manjula has been slowed by a recurring ankle injury that had him sidelined this past year. He spent the entire time in Sri Lanka treating the injury with herbal medicines. Prior to Manjula leaving to recover, he had already jumped an indoor personal record of 2.23 on January 22, 2006 at a meet in New Mexico.

That meet was his very first competition of the year! I think we both felt we were on the right track for something really big that outdoor year but misfortunes hit when he strained his ankle at another indoor competition in Arkansas.

Question: Do you think he could bounce back and become a champion athlete?

Answer: I am really excited about Manjula and this upcoming year. We have a great deal of work to do and I have no doubt, with a few adjustments to his technique that Manjula will find his way among champions.

He will have a lot of work to do here but he has great teammates and a fantastic facility to train under. Manjula will be at his best as he continues to understand the sport and mental toughness associated with being a champion.

There are a lot of talented athletes (physically) as you may have observed here n Osaka, but the champions possess a little something else that gives them an edge. Manjula has shown that toughness at times, so it will be our goal to bring this out as he prepares for the coming year that should include a trip to Beijing in 2008.

Question: What are his chances in the big league? Do you feel that he could win a surprise medal or two at international level?

Answer: It would be great to see Manjula win a medal for Sri Lanka. I don’t think Manjula expects anything different but he also knows that it will require a great deal of sacrafice on his part.

From a coaching perspective, the plan will be to take it one meet at a time as we navigate our way through the college competitions in preparation for the Sri Lanka National Championships. Along the way, we simply set markers to aid us in the process.

I have already placed a small challenge on his shoulders for the coming year. I told Manjula that he should shoot for the National records in both the High Jump as well as the Triple Jump this year.

Question: Your observations on Sri Lanka athletics, especially through what you have heard from your good friend and colleague the University and former Sri Lanka high jump champion Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam and Manjula?

Answer: I know that Sri Lanka may not offer the same facilities or huge numbers that the USA may have but I see the same passion in Manjula’s eyes that I see in our national athlete’s here in the United States. They all want to be winners!

Question: What is your message to up and coming athletes in Sri Lanka?

Answer: I would share with them the same that I share with other athletes, follow your dream and put fear aside. You may find it tough at first but perseverance has its place in our sport.

Those athletes that you see on the world stages have all gone through ups and downs and have stories to share of triumph and despair.

The true champion is the one that knocks the bar down and tries again, or fouls a jump or two and makes the adjustment and nails a winner!