Ayomal expected to touch his best in the semi-final

Commonwealth Youth Games medallist Ayomal Akalanka is known for keeping his best performance for the last. It is what could be likely when he competes in the semi-final of the 400 metres hurdles at the World Junior Athletics Championship in the Peruvian capital today.

Ambagamuwa Central athlete and Mahinda College, Galle sprinter Jathya Kirulu reached the semi-finals of their respective disciplines on day two of the World Junior Athletics championship in Lima on Wednesday.

Akalanka clocked 52.04 seconds to finish fourth in his heat but his finishing time was sufficient to secure the semi-final place as the 12th fastest from the seven heats held. The athlete trained by veteran coach Anura Bandara is scheduled to contest in the first semi-final today (30).

He is known for creating his best performances when the event progresses and that is what could be expected in the semis. He has a personal best of 51.26 seconds which he achieved in July (national junior record).

Jathya Kirulu earned direct qualification (Q) to the 400 metres semi-finals when he clocked 47.64 seconds to finish third in his heat won by USA’s Jayden Davis who returned a time of 46.32 seconds. Brazil’s Vinicius Moura finished second in a time of 47.55 seconds.

In the meantime Nannapurawa MV, Bibila athlete Madushani Herath had to settle for a feat of 12.23 metres in the triple jump qualifying round where she was placed 14th in her group.

Lyceum International sprinter Jithma Wijethunga was eliminated in the 400 metres heats. She returned a time of 56.16 seconds and was placed eighth.

In the day’s most looked forward to events Jamaica’s Alana Reid and Bayanda Walaza of South Africa clinched the women’s and men’s 100 metres titles.

The women’s 100m was a battle between Jamaica’s Alana Reid and Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands. Reid and Hodge took the gold and silver, respectively.

It was a tale of two starts that made the difference in medal colour. Reid crossed the line in 11.17 seconds.

Walaza won gold in 10.19 seconds while Thailand’s Puripol Boonson who missed the podium at the last edition (4th) finished second in 10.22 seconds to win the first ever medal for his nation at the World U20 Championships.