Date:02/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/02/stories/2008080260991800.htm

Sport - Athletics

Mayookha bags long jump gold

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: H. Vibhu

Mayookha Johny.

KOCHI: With a strong opening round, young star Mayookha Johny comfortably won the women’s long jump gold at the Kerala State inter-club athletics championship at the Maharaja’s Stadium here on Friday evening.

With none to push her, Mayookha, who has a personal best of 6.35m, won with a 6.17m effort.

“My goal is 6.50 this year and I’m looking forward to the Open National and the universities National in Kochi,” said the 19-year-old from Thalassery SAI.

Nine records fell on the opening day but LNCPE’s Arun S. Kumar’s meet mark in the under-18 boys high jump, where he won the gold with a two-metre, came after an interesting duel with Palakkad’s Jithu Johny. Arun raised the bar by seven centimetres.

The records: Boys: under-18 high jump: 800m: V.N. Arunkumar (Kottayam CSH, 1:55s, OR Robin Rose Mani’s 1:58.2). High jump: Arun S. Kumar (SAI STC LNCPE, Tvm, 2m, OR Prince Jose’s 1.93).

Girls’ under-20: 800m: Anu Mariyam Jose (Malabar Sp. Ac., Pullurampara, 2:12.7s, OR Frency Thomas’ 2:18.8). Shot put: J. Saranya (Kollam Centralised Sports Hostel, 12.27m, OR Ponny Jose’s 11.66).

Under-18: 800m: Chinchu Jose (Kannur Sp. Div., 2:14s, OR A.A.Vijila’s 2:17.7s). 3,000m: M.D. Thara (Parali HS, 10:21.6s; OR M.V.Remeswari’s 10:21.65). High jump: Stency Michael (Kannur Sp. Div., 1.63m, OR Geethu Skaria’s 1.60).

Under-16: 800m: Resin George (Kottayam CSH, 2:20.76s, OR K.Sinsha’s 2:22.1). Shot put: Aswany Syam (Kollam CSH, 10.17m; OR Anju Prasad’s 9.96m).