The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Sreenith's switch to high jump has paid off

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Sreenith's switch to high jump has paid off

Principal Correspondent

SAILING OVER:Sreenith Mohan who created a new meet record in the junior boys' high jump.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sreenith Mohan was a toddler when R. Anil Kumar set a new mark in junior boys' high jump in 1996 in the State School athletic meet.

For 14 years, the record proved to be insurmountable until Sreenith surpassed it with a series of classy jumps at the synthetic track of the University stadium here on Saturday.

The 10th standard student of Sree Krishna HSS, Guruvayoor, cleared 1.98m and narrowly missed the National record by failing to clear 2.01m.

Sreenith destroyed the field with his opening attempt of 1.88m in his first try and then cleared 1.91m to break the record.

Sreenith's domination of the event could be gauged by the fact that the other two medallists could clear only 1.84m.

The lanky youngster, who started off as a long jumper, switched to high jump four years ago at the insistence of his coach Nelson.

Training on a makeshift landing pit — jute bags filled with saw dust and dried grass and covered by tarpaulin sheet — on his school ground, the sight of an inviting landing pit and bouncy runway at the University stadium was enough for Sreenith to come up with his career best performance.

“I knew I was in good form after doing 1.86m in the revenue district meet and was confident of breaking the record.

“It was hot and humid and towards the end I was tired or else I would have broken the national record,” he said.

Sreenith's coach Nelson said that his ward has made rapid improvement since winning the gold medal in Thiruvalla school meet last year.

“He has improved his personal best from 1.76m to 1.98m within a year which is amazing.

“I am sure he will again improve provided he is given the right facilities to train with,” Nelson said.

The coach added that the Guruvayoor Devasom Board which runs the school has sanctioned money to buy a modern landing pit at the school.

It will be a big boon to a talented athlete like Sreenith.

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