CITY’S international long distance runner Nikita Raut and upcoming athlete Riya Dohatare attracted selectors’ attention with their medal winning performances at the State athletics selection trials under way at Meenatai Thakre Sports Complex, Nashik on Friday. While senior athlete Nikita won bronze medal, Riya won the silver in their respective events at the athletics synthetic athletics track in Nashik. In the 3,000 metres steeplechase event in Under-23 age category, Track Star Athletics Club’s Riya clocked a timing of 12 min 12.97 secs to clinch the silver medal. Satara’s Vaishnavi Sawant won the gold medal (11:09.62s) while Vishakha Salunke also of Satara won bronze medal (12:18.97s). Riya and Nikita are coached by Ravindra Tong, who works with Nagpur Police. In Open 5,000 metres race Nikita, also of Track Star Athletics Club finished third with a timing of 17:04.13s.

 

The gold went to Nashik’s Komal Jagdale (16:17.37) while Sanjivini Jadhav won silver medal (16:30.72s). Nagpur’s Prajakta Godbole finished fourth. In Under-23 men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, Track Star Athletics Club’s Sourav Tiwari and Rajan Yadav finished at fourth and fifth positions, respectively. In the long jump event, Om Sai Sporting Club, Umred’s Pranav Ladhe finished a distance 11th while in women’s 200 metres Yamini Thakre finished fourth. Both the medal winners, Riya and Nikita were congratulated by Nagpur District Athletics Association President Gurudev Nagrale, Secretary Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, corporator Nagesh Sahare, SJ Anthony, Umesh Naidu, Ramchandra Wani, Shekhar Suryawanshi, Archana Kottewar, Prof Buntyprasad Yadav, Dr Vibekanand Singh, Ravindra Tong, Jitendra Ghordadekar, Harendra Thakur, Sunil Kapgate, Mangesh Paunikar, Amit Thakur, Chandrabhan Kolte, Vandev Thakre, Brijmohansingh Rawat, Gajanan Thakre, Gaurav Mirase, Nilesh Natwarm Gaurav Singh Chauhan and others.