The men’s 400 metres has witnessed a dramatic improvement in 2023 according to an analysis done by Sri Lanka Athletics recorder Sameera Lakruwan Perera. The 400 metres specialists Kalinga Kumarage, Aruna Dharshana, Rajitha Rajakaruna and Pabasara Niku who won relay medals at Asian level, made drastic changes to the all-time top ten list during the year 2023, making their pet event the most prospective track and field discipline for Sri Lanka. They are expected to continue from where they stopped during the Olympic year.
The Asian Games medallists are expected to feature in the World Relays in May in Bahamas where they will vie to earn Olympic qualifications. Sri Lanka’s record-breaking performance to win the Asian Championship gold in the 4×400 metres relay positioned them among the top 16 relay feats in the world in 2023. If such a performance could be repeated, they are in with a chance to earn qualifying standards to compete in Paris Olympics in July and August.
According to the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings maintained by World Athletics; Sri Lanka’s 4×400 metres team is ranked 15th in the world. With only 16 slots available for the 4×400 metres relay at the Olympics it will be an uphill task for Sri Lanka to maintain the current position if they do not compete at the World Relays.
Sri Lanka will also have a chance in the mixed relay if the team could improve the current position. Currently Sri Lanka is ranked 26th in the mixed relay in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings. Sri Lanka could have secured a better position in that ranking if they could be on the podium at the Asian Games. The team of Kumarage, Dharshana, Nadeesha Ramanayake and Tharushi Karunaratne were disqualified at the Asian Games for a lane infringement after finishing second in the mixed relay final (3:14.25 secs).
The year 2023 saw Kumarage overtaking both Rohan Pradeep Kumara and Prasanna Sampath Amarasekara to become the second fastest 400 metres sprinter in history behind Sugath Thilakaratne. While Dharshana surpassed Prasanna Sampath Amarasekara with a 45.45 seconds dash in July to secure the fourth position in the all-time best list, both Rajakaruna and Niku overtook legendary, W. Wimaladasa to be ranked among the all-time top ten 400 metres sprinters.
In the men’s category, Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon is expected to make a return to top level competition this year and will be among top contenders to earn qualifying standards for Olympics. However, he has not competed since suffering a hamstring injury during a competition in May.
The 110 metres hurdles national record holder Janidu Lakvijaya and 400 metres hurdler Dhanuka Dharshana are the other top ranked Sri Lankan male athletes but none of them are as close as the men’s 400 metres sprinters to earning Olympic qualifying standards.
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