by Reemus Fernando
Having improved the national record of the women’s 800 metres twice this year Gayanthika Abeyratne was easily the country’s top performer in the women’s category in track and field sports in 2022. While 100 metres remained the most closely contested track discipline in the women’s category, steeplechaser Nilani Ratnayake, long jumper Sarangi Silva and schoolgirl Tharushi Karunaratne made their presence felt to a great extent during the year.
There were no big victories at major international multisport events for Sri Lanka in the women’s category. The Asian Games, the only event where Sri Lanka were aiming for medals was postponed. In its absence, long jumper Sarangi Silva and Abeyratne produced some top performances elsewhere to secure top-ranking places in the Asian region.
Sarangi’s record-breaking 6.65 metres leap at the First Selection Trial in February was an ideal start to the season where she was aiming to qualify for both the Asian Games and the World Athletics Championships. She had to give up on the World Championships after being included in the team at the eleventh hour as she prioritized Commonwealth Games. There she produced jumps over six metres and qualified for the final as the tenth best jumper for a feat of 6.42 metres. Her national record jump of 6.65 metres is ranked as the third-best jump by a female athlete in Asia this year.
Competing against a strong field inclusive of Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Championship medallists, winning a medal was not a priority for Abeyratne at the Commonwealth Games. Hence she took the opportunity to deliver her lifetime best (2:01.20) to create a new national record in the 800 metres at Birmingham.
In a World Championship year, most of the athletes suffered without top-grade competitions to improve their world rankings. Nilani Rathnayake who missed the last Olympics due to the same reason spent a better part of the year waiting for an opportunity. What placed her among the top ten in Asia this year was her record-breaking performance at the Centenary National Championships. She clocked 9:40.24 seconds to improve on her own record in the meet held in April.
The untimely death of national 400 metres hurdles champion Kaushalya Madushani shocked the athletics fraternity early this year. The heartbreaking news came just a day after the National Championship was concluded. Months after her death, she remains one of the top ten athletes in the country according to the World Athletics rankings.
Among the top ten athletes in the female category are four 100 metres sprinters. Amasha de Silva, Lakshika Sugandi, Rumeshika Ratnayake and Medhani Jayamanne according to World Athletics’ year end rankings.
Ratnayake Central, Walala athlete Tharushi Karunaratne is the only school athlete among the top ten ranked athletes in the country. Her prowess in the 400 metres and the 800 metres has powered her to a number of Junior International events. However, the news of her 400 metres victory against seasoned national athletes at the Centenary National Championships doesn’t seem to have reached the authorities of the Central Province. The year came to an end with the shocking news of her being verbally abused by stadium authorities at Digana Sports Complex. At a time when students give up on sports in the current economic downturn, the likes of Karunaratne must be well looked after. It remains to be seen whether the sports authorities have a genuine interest in doing so.
Highest Ranked Female Athletes in 2022
Gayanthika Abeyratne 800m
Nilani Rathnayake 3000m Steeple chase
Sarangi Silva long jump
Tharushi Karunaratne 400m, 800m
Amasha de Silva 100m
Lakshika Sugandi 100m, 100m hurdles
Nadeesha Ramanayake 400m
Rumeshika Ratnayake 100m
Kaushalya Madushani 400m, 400m hurdles
Medhani Jayamanne 100m, 200m