Vishal Gupta of Sports Authority of India, in boys under-16 and Sakshi Jadhav from Malad’s Speedster Club, in the girls under-16 set the track on fire by winning their 2000m event in a thrilling finish on the opening day of the Striders Foundation- sponsored Mumbai Suburban District Athletics championships ,held at Sports Authority of India at their centre at Kandivali (East) here today.
Incidentally, in both these events, not only Vishal (6:15.6 secs) and Sakshi (7:39.8secs) , but all the three , who followed them home, also eclipsed the existing timings of 5:45.1 secs in boys and 7:52.8 secs in girls section.
Another girl to share the day’s honours with them was Harshita Shetty, who bagged gold in the girls under-16 discus throw event by hurling the disc to 30.38 mts, thus , thus re-writing the existing record of 29.62 mts.
Chief guest Linesh Pathak.a former international hurdler and Arjun awardee inaugurated the meet.
Results of the winners: Men: Shot Put: Nimesh Desai (Healthward Bound -Malad) -12.30mts. Men: 400m: Long Jump: Amrish Rathod (Universal, Worli)- 6.44 mts.
Boys U-16: 2000m: 1. Vishal Gupta (SAI) – 6.15.6 (NMR); 2, 2.Vijay Gorkh (Savio SC (Andheri)- secs; 6:18.3 secs.(BMR); 3. Siddesh Thorat (BSGD COLL, Malad)-6:26.3secs.(Old record- 6:44 11.7 secs.– 6:62.3secs.
Girls U-16: 2000m: 1. Sakshi Jadhav (Speedster Club, Malad) – 7:398secs(NMR); 2. Sakshi Wafelkar (Speedster Club, Malad); 3. Sampada Khamkar (SAI) – 7:45.8 secs. Discus Throw: Girls U16: 1, Harshita Shetty (Lokhandwala Foundation)- 30:38 mts; 2.Sagarika Jadhav (Carmel of St Joseph)- 29.65 mts.