Harsha sends authorities a message with 800m National Championship record

Harsha Karunaratne delivered a memorable performance at the 104th National Athletics Championship, winning the men’s 800 metres with a time of 1:47.80 on the final day. This remarkable achievement shattered the meet record and set a new standard for Sri Lankan middle-distance running. Trained by Susantha Fernando, Karunaratne's accomplishment was especially significant as he is the sole gold medallist from the 2025 South Asian Championship not selected for the Mission Olympic programme.

His training partner, Shehan Dilranga, complemented the success by achieving a personal best of 1:48.43, second overall. Karunaratne's family ties to Sri Lankan track and field are notable, with his sister Tharushi Karunarathna being an Asian Games gold medallist. The performance brought him close to the national record held by Indunil Herath, who set the benchmark at 1:47.13 in 2018.

Herath, a Sri Lanka Army athlete, achieved his record abroad after training in Kenya, making Karunaratne's home soil achievement even more impressive. It is worth noting that Herath's mark remains the fastest 800m ever recorded by a Sri Lankan within the country, despite the overseas record being slightly faster. Karunaratne's performance, coupled with Dilranga's personal best, indicates a growing depth in Sri Lanka's 800m runners.

The decision to exclude Karunaratne from the Mission Olympic programme has been called into question, with his recent success making it difficult for selectors to overlook his talent.