Nimali breaks Sri Lanka record

Chinthana Wasala

W. L. K. A. Nimali who represented the Hambantota District Athletic Association broke the Sri Lanka record for the 300m Steeple Chase with a brilliant timing of 11 minutes 19.44 seconds at the 86th National Athletics Championships which marked its inauguration yesterday. It was the only new Sri Lanka record produced on day one while three new meet records were also established.

Women's Pole Vault saw J. M. Ishara Udayangani of Lanka Lions SC making her best to set the new National record with 2.80m while the second placed J. M. D. A. Piyumali (Sri Lanka Air Force) also fallowed her closely with 2.70m to get beyond the previous record.

Nadeeka Lakmali of Sri Lanka Army who has made it to the Olympics this season, cleared a distance of 55.07m to set a new meet record. She was way ahead of her colleague the silver medalist H. L. N. D. Lekamge who cleared 44.82m. M. N. D. Muthunayake of Sri Lanka Navy was the other one to renew the record book in her shot put event clearing 14.24m ahead of Tharika Kumudumali (Ceylones Track and Field Club) who had a mark of 12.34m who won the silver.

The significant remark on day one was that only women athletes could enter the record books.