Nikita, Prajakta, Yamini fail to achieve sr national berths

Despite emerging winners and runners-up in their respective categories city athletes Nikita Raut, Prajakta Godbole, and Yamini Thakre failed to achieve the qualifying mark and as a result, missed the berth in Maharashtra team for the Senior National Athletics Championship to be held at Patiala from June 25 to 29.

During the state selection trials held at Nashik, Nikita Raut, and Prajakta Godbole while representing Nagpur district emerged winner and runners-up respectively in 5000 m event. Nikita, a member of Track Star Club, clocked 17:20.90 minutes to achieve first place whereas her city colleague and member of Fitness Forever Club Prajakta Godbole finished second with a timing 17:34.30 minutes.

In women 1000 m event Nikita Raut achieved first place clocking 35:59.60 minutes whereas Prajakta Godbole finished second in the same event with a timing 36:13.90 minutes.In the 1500 m run, Yamini Thakre secured first place with a timing of 5:06.80 minutes.

Although they won the races, they failed to achieve the qualifying mark and that is the reason why they missed the berths in Maharashtra team. Secretary of Nagpur District Athletics Association (NDAA) Dr Sharad Suryavanshi said, "All three athletes missed the mark despite considering their timings of previous three years. This is after a long time that no athlete from the city has qualified for the senior nationals", he said.

Team

Men's Saurabh Naitham (Thane 1 000 m, 4x100 relay), Kiran Bhosale (Pune100 m, 4x100 relay), Akshay Khot (Thane100 m, 4x100 relay), Harsh Rana (Mumbai city 4x100 relay),Adesh Yadav (Nashik 5000 m), Rohit YAdav(Nashik10000 m), Dinesh (Nashik10,000 m), Siddhanth Thingalya (Mumbai suburb 110 m hurdles), Avinash Sable (camper 3000 m steeple chase), Krishna Singh (Mumbai suburb triple jump), Anilkumar Sahoo( Mumbai suburb long jump, triple jump), Kushal Mohite (Satara decathlon).

Women: Yamuna Ladkat (Nashik 800 m), Komal Jagdale (Nashik 50000m, 30000 steeple chase), Sneha Jadhav( Satara hammer throw), Surabhi Vedpathak(Pune hammer throw).