Jinson Johnson ran one of the most memorable races in recent times as he smashed legendary Sriram Singh's 42-year-old 800m record, the oldest one in Indian athletics, to steal the spotlight on the second day of the 58th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships here today.
The 27-year-old Johnson, representing Kerala, clocked one minute and 45.65 seconds to clinch the gold and to better the earlier record of 1:45.77 in the name of Sriram set during the 1976 Olympic Games.
He also booked a ticket for the Asian Games as the qualification mark is 1:47.50.
I have been improving my physical fitness and the conditions were very good. Before the race, I was not thinking about the gold. I told myself that I will go for the national record, Jinson said after the race.
Jinson's earlier personal best was 1:45.98 in Bangalore in 2016.
My (earlier) personal best timing was not that far away (from Sriram's). So I knew I can break it and I have done today. I was disappointed that I couldn't do well in Rio Olympics. Now I am very happy that I qualified for the Asian Games.
Reacting after his record was broken, Sriram said: "Records are to be broken and I'm happy that Jinson broke my record. It is good for Indian athletes."
Asked if she can break the national record of 22.82 of Saraswati Saha during the Asian Games, she said, "I cannot say that now and everybody will see when I run the race there in the Asian Games."
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