Nayomika Gimhani (16) of Sumanabalika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura hogged the limelight managing her energy in a hot and humid day to impress in two track events while at least eight other youngsters gave selectors things to ponder in the Junior Athletic Trials conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Although she failed to match her last year’s feat (at the Schools Sports Festival) running three seconds behind her personal best, Gimhani was at least six seconds ahead of her closest rival when she finished first in the Girls’ 400 meter hurdles. In the absence of a close contestant and running in the season opener, she clocked one minute and 06.79 seconds to win the event.

The lass from humble Gileemale exhibited her prowess in the 100 meter hurdles as well clocking 15.81 seconds to finish second behind Keshani Perera (15.4) of Holy Family Convent, Colombo.

Trials were conducted for 24 track and field events to select 12 athletes (six boys and six girls) for the forthcoming Junior Asian Games which will be held in Singapore.

With the trials being held during the off season, the athletes failed to come up with their best performances but at least eight other athletes made their presence felt with some good performances.

Peterite Heshan Amarasinghe in a dashing sprint clocked 11.47 seconds to win the Boys’ 100 meters. In a closely contested Girls’ 100 meters Akshana Maralanda (Mahamaya Girls’ College) and J.P. Senanayake (St. Joseph’s Balika, Kegalle) split the first and second places in .03 seconds. Maralanda clocked 12.61 seconds.