Aparna Roy breaks 100m hurdles record
October 14, 2018
Aparna Roy (Kozhikode) made a fine comeback from injury to break the record in 100m hurdles in the under-18 girls’ section of the 62nd state junior athletics meet at the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium on Saturday.
The 17-year-old was supposed to be competing in the biggest meet of her career — Youth Olympics — at the time of this meet. But an adductor muscle strain forced her to miss the national camp and the trip to Buenos Aires. However, Aparna recovered in time to compete in the State meet and showed no signs of discomfort while winning the 100m hurdles in record time.
Aparna led from start to finish and clocked 13.87s to break K.V. Sajitha’s 11-year-old record (14.70) set in 2007.
“She started training only two weeks ago and competed in this meet to test her fitness. The doctor had given her clearance to participate, but we were a little apprehensive. She did well to set a new record. She still hasn’t regained her full fitness,” said Tommy Cherian, who coaches her at the Malabar Sports Academy.
Ann Rose Tomy, who came second behind Aparna Roy, also came under the existing mark by clocking 14.61s.
Aditya Kumar Singh of Thiruvananthapuram impressed by breaking M. Sreesankar’s record in under-16 boys’ long jump. Aditya, who hails from Varanasi, has been training under SAI coach M.A. George for the last two years. In an error-ridden jump sequence in which he fouled twice, Aditya managed to land one good jump on his fourth attempt which was measured at 6.93m. He broke Sreesankar’s old mark (6.63, set in 2014). The second-placed T.J. Joseph of Ernakulam also broke the existing record with an effort of 6.73m.
T.K. Sayooj of Kozhikode set a new record in under-18 boys’ 400m. The 16-year-old clocked an impressive 48.76s to blitz the field and break Noah Nirmal Tom’s old mark of 48.99 set in 2013.
Nine records were set on the second day which saw Ernakulam take the lead with 275 points. Palakkad (260) and Thiruvananthapuram (228) were in the second and third positions.
The records: Boys: Under-20: 1500m: Abhinandh Sundaresan (Tvdm) 3:53.45 (NMR, Old: 3:59.63, self, 2017).
Under-18: 400m: T.K. Sayooj (Kozd) 48.78s (NMR, Old: 48.99, Noah Nirmal Tom, Kozd, 2013); 1500m: Adarsh Gopi (Ekm) 3:55.02s, Old: 3:58.05, self, 2017); 10,000 walk: D.K. Nisanth (Pkd) 48:13.11s (NMR, Old: 48.20.00, A. Aneesh, Pkd, 2015).
Under-16: Long jump: Aditya Kumar Singh (Tvdm) 6.93m (NMR, Old: 6.68, Sree Sankar, Pkd, 2014).
Girls: Under-18: 100m hurdles: Aparna Roy (Kozd) 13.89s (NMR, Old: 14.70, K. V. Sajitha, Knr, 2007); Discus: P.A. Athulya (Tsr) 36.96m (NMR, Old: 35.88, Anitha Abraham, Ktm, 2003).
Under-16: Javelin: Aiswarya Suresh (Knr) 34.15 (NMR, Old: 31.81, P.S. Jayalakshmi, 2010).
Under-14: 600m: Aleena Maria John (Ekm) 1:38.63s (NMR, Old: 1:39.25, Aswathy Binu, Tvdm, 2014) .
