Sprinter Himasha Eashan was in seventh heaven after an astonishing 10.11 seconds and 10.12 seconds (Wind aided) in the 100m heats and semis but was left devastated soon when he got to know about plus winds at the National trials held at Sugathadasa stadium.
The day started with the amazing performance in sprinting from the defending South Asian Games (SAG) champion, Himasha Eashan who ran 10.11 seconds in the 100M heats receiving a standing ovation from almost everyone who was present in the stadium. But, the wind aid of + 3.1 which is over the legal wind limit of +2.0 for sprinting left Eashan dejected.
Determined Eashan, returned to the semi finals two and half hours later again dazzled in the same style, this time clocking 10.12 seconds but the wind again was +2.6 just 0.6 over the legal limit. Eashan could not shatter his SL and South Asian record of 10.26 seconds set in 2016. A moment later the 200m SAG gold medalist equaled his personal best of 10.27 seconds with a perfect wind of +2.0 which the Athletics Association considered as the ‘Sri Lanka record with a legal wind reading’ because Eashan’s 10.26 did not have a wind reading due to a technical blunder by an Indian official in SAG.
“Happy to clock a better time in almost two years as I could not have a good run since 2016 SAG . My main target will be eyeing for a medal at the Asian Championship and getting selected for the forthcoming World Championship “said Eashan after the race.
The duo will return on Sunday for the 100m finals which will be a cracker to watch.