Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne boosted her Olympic aspirations as she erased the Asian Continental record to win the second place in the women’s 600 metres at the Bilbao Reunion International, a World Athletics bronze label event in Spain on Tuesday (18).
The record-breaking 1:24.84 seconds performance has helped former Walala Ratnayake Central athlete climb to the 47th position in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings after being in the 63rd position before the race.
The athlete has earned 1168 points for her outstanding feat and 50 points for the second place according to the latest rankings published by the world governing body.
The ranking points she earned for her latest feat is the highest she has won in her bubbling career. She earned only 1150 points for her championship and national record time of 2:00.66 seconds in the 800 metres at the last Asian Championship.
The 19-year-old erased the continental record in the 600 metres held by Ayano Shiomi of Japan who had clocked 1:28.06 for 600 metres in 2022.
Tharushi’s performance of 1:24.84 is the fourth fastest time for 600 metres this year. In the world all time list it ranks in 23rd position.
The World Athletics has a quota for 48 athletes for the women’s 800 metres. The athletes reaching the direct Olympic qualifying standard of 1:59.30 seconds or those maintaining a position within the top 48 in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ Olympic rankings by June 30 become eligible for the quadrennial event.
Kalinga Kumarage who was placed third with a time of 45.91 seconds in the men’s 400 metres at the same meet in Spain has dropped to the 54th position in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ Olympic rankings, while Aruna Dharshana is ranked 53rd.
Dharshana has earned 1199 (1119+80) points for his second place performance in the championship in the Bahamas over the weekend.
All top athletes aspiring to earn Olympic qualifying standards will have two more competitions including the National Championships in Sri Lanka before the qualifying period closes on June 30. (TBR)
