Press Trust of India
Kolkata, Sept 18: Asian Games bronze medallist Annu Rani helped defending champions Railways get a gold medal while triple jumper Mayookha Johny’s meet record pushed ONGC to the top of the medals tally on the penultimate day of the 55th National Open Athletics Championship here Friday.
Orissa’s Jauna Murmu, representing ONGC finished second in the 400m hurdles behind compatriot Anu Raghavan (58.73s) with a time of 59.41 seconds.
Eyeing an Olympic qualification of 62 metres, Railways javelin thrower Rani struggled in the heat and humidity to throw 58.85m which was good enough to clinch her a fourth gold medal on the trot and better her two-year-old mark.
“I struggled in the heat and humidity and could not give my best even as I would do 60-plus in training… However, I’m confident to achieve the Olympic qualification,” the 22-year-old from Meerut girl who bagged a bronze in Incheon 2014 said.
National record holder Annu’s was the lone gold for overnight leaders Railways who clinched another silver in the day to slip to second place behind ONGC who now have an overall tally of nine gold, nine silver and two bronze with the day’s haul of three gold and three silver medals.
Mayookha made her visit here memorable again as she brought up her best again, three years after she set a record at the same place, to win a third gold in the nationals. She jumped 13.78 metres to erase her previous best of 13.71m at the 2011 National Open here.
It was a memorable day for Gujarat walker Babu Panocha who bagged his fifth title in nine years, reigning supreme in 20km walk earlier in the day.
