Four more meet records were bettered on the concluding day of the Federation Cup junior (under-20) athletics meet here on Thursday, with Maharashtra intermediate hurdler Durgesh Kumar Pal leading the way with a splendid 51.26s.
Durgesh, a silver medallist at the Youth Olympic Games in 2010, missed his own national record of 50.86s in the 400m hurdles, but his 51.26s was creditable, coming early in the season.
It bettered the four-year-old meet mark of 51.94 in the name of Kerala's Jithin Paul.
“I misjudged the last hurdle, hit it and lost my rhythm. Otherwise I could have improved on my national record,” said Durgesh.
Rahul betters record
The others to post meet records in on the final day were Maharashtra's Rahul Kumar Pal in the 10,000m (29:49.80), bettering 31:33.60 of 2002; Sahanara Khatun of Bengal , in the women's 3000 metres, clocking 10:02.11, and Purnima Hembram in the heptathlon, with 4810 points.
Rahul Kumar and Khatun completed doubles in record timings, having won the 5000m events earlier.
Bengal girl Priyanka Mondal who clocked 55.81 in winning the 400m was adjudged the best athlete among junior women while Durgesh won the honour among junior men.
Haryana edged Kerala by a lone point, 140 to 139, to claim the team championships.
Defending champion Tamil Nadu finished seventh.
Seventeen boys in 11 events attained the qualification norms for the world junior championships to be held in Barcelona in July.
No one in the women's section made the grade.
“The athletes had just arrived after examinations. I am sure more athletics will attain qualification during next month's Asian championships in Colombo” said chief coach for the juniors, Rajinder Singh.
