By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has shortlisted eligible athletes for the forthcoming National Athletics Championship 2020 to be held from 26 to 29 December at the Sugathadasa Stadium. This is going to be the first and only National Athletics event for this year. The National Athletic coach Y.K Kularatne said SLA is determined to hold the National Championship before 31 December, where World Athletics rules state athletes’ performance at a National Championship will give them 100 bonus point, which is going to be crucial for their world ranking position and give them an opportunity to compete at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The National coach further added athletes have resumed their practices in various places Sugathadasa Stadium, Torrington grounds as well as outstations but their all practice schedule under the rules and regulations for Covid-19. We have to be careful with this hard period and prepare to compete in future international events. SLA headed by It’s President Major General Palitha Fernando mentioned that they have taken all effort to build up athletes and can’t hold up these activities due to Covid- 19 and have to compete with International athletes and no excuses could be given for the International events.
The Athletes whose names are not included in the competition list but wish to compete at the Nationals, can appeal to SLA on or before 8 December, and based on successful appeals a further limited number of entries will be considered. The National athletic coach Y.K Kularatne further said according to the 2019 ranking, the top twenty athletes eligible for the events from 100m to 800m.(100m, 200m, 400m, 800m) In addition, four athletes each will select from the successful appeals. Also 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m events first ten athletes will select from the ranking based on their 2019 performances while two athletes will select from the appeals. For the hurdle events (100m, 110m and 400m ) 14 athletes will select from last year’s rankings while two additions from the appeals for each hurdle events. Meanwhile, for the field events (jumps and throwing) the athletes from the top ten rankings with two from appeals will select for the events.
SLA is forced to limit participation for the National Championship due to the prevailing situation in the country. Sugathadasa Stadium, which is situated in Bloemendhal (Colombo 13) is still in lockdown, and SLA might have to obtain permission from the authorities to transport athletes by bus from Torrington direct to the Stadium for the trials, which is the system they now adopt for selected athletes who train at Sugathadasa Stadium.
However currently, 3000m steeplechase runner Nilani Rathnayaka is the only one qualified for the Olympic list. She is in 30th position in the list, where a total of 45 athletes will be selected for the Olympics for the event. The list has been prepared based on 2019 Rankings and all top local athletes will take part this National championships said National coach Y.K Kularatne.
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