ATHLETICS / MSSM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Blunder Denies Kirthana A Treble

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sprinter forced to compete in 200m, long jump at the same time

R. Kirthana en route to winning the long jump gold at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday. Pic by Amran Hamid

R. Kirthana

R. KIRTHANA displayed gritty determination to win a gold and silver when she was forced to compete in two events concurrently at the Malaysian Schools Athletic Championships in Kangar yesterday.

The Perak athlete's unusual circumstances arose after an organisational blunder led to the girls' Under-15 200m being moved forward in yesterday morning's schedule when she was still competing in the long jump.

This was because someone had forgot to fill the steeplechase water pit which resulted in the boys' Under-15 2,000m and Under-18 3,000m steeplechase events being rescheduled from early to late morning.

Kirthana, who had also won the 100m gold earlier, was thus denied a treble when she could only finish second in the 200m final to Kuala Lumpur's Tham Yi Yin while still having her long jump spikes on.

"It was so difficult for me," said Kirthana after winning the long jump gold. "I hurt my knee when I accidentally kicked myself. I forgot I was still wearing the spikes.

"If not I think I would have won the 200m. I'm disappointed I did not get three gold medals. Hopefully, next year I will be able to do it."

After Kirthana crossed the finish line, she fell to the ground before Bukit Jalil Sports School principal Datuk Marina Chin helped the athlete relieve her cramping leg with a massage.

It meant Kirthana missed her fourth and fifth attempts in the long jump but luckily she had been leading the pack with a 5.14m effort after three rounds.

She returned for her final attempt and improved her distance to 5.16m for the gold medal.

"I missed two jumps because of the 200m final. But I was able to take my last attempt and I gave it my all," added Kirthana.

Another record was set yesterday, bringing the total in the meet to 13 equalled or renewed, after Cheah Yau Chung of Perak clocked 22.45 seconds to lower his own best set in the heats on Friday by 0.05s in winning the boys' Under-15 200m final for a sprint double.

Also completing a double was Ikhwan Safwan Zainudin of Terengganu, who added the boys' Under-18 200m gold medal to the 400m he won earlier.

S. Saranraj won the 3,000m steeplechase gold, this time without the theatrics, to add to his earlier win in the 5,000m.

"It was so hot," said Saranraj, whose record bid was ruined by the delay and the late morning heat and pulled his hamstring for his trouble.

"I warmed up much earlier and then they postponed the final. There was no way I was going to run fast enough."

Sarawak retained their overall medal tally title with a haul of 15 gold, 20 silver and eight bronze medals but not before being given a scare by Perak, who finished second with 13-16-10.

They were followed by Kuala Lumpur, whose medal tally of 9-5-10 was boosted by three 4x400m relay wins yesterday, Selangor (9-3-8) and Sabah (8-8-7).

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