ATHLETICS | New meet records in pole vault, men’s 100m and women’s 5000m

It was widely expected that none of the athletes would make the World Championships cut on the opening day of the National Inter-State athletics meet at the Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday. This was primarily due to the high Worlds qualification marks and the strength of athletes in their respective disciplines.

Things did go according to script, but with a few surprises — with new meet records posted in men’s pole vault, men’s 100m and women’s 5000m.

Tamil Nadu’s G. Reegan and M. Gowtham shared the honours in pole vault after both cleared 5.20m in their first attempt. They decided not to go for another attempt and decided to share first place. It was a great moment for both as it was their personal best.

Reegan, left, and Gowtham after agreeing to share the pole vault crown at the 64th National Inter-State senior athletics championships in Chennai on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R. RAGU

While Gowtham had scaled 5.15m and finished second behind Dev Meena in the Federation Cup in Kochi in April this year, Reegan had finished third with a jump of 5.10m.

In the men’s 100m field that consisted of seniors such as Manikanta and Amlan Borgohain, Tamilarasu, aged 23, showed he is one for the future. His clinical finish in a time of 10.22s, erased his previous best of 10.42s set in the Kochi Federation Cup this year. “I was confident before the race. I wanted to go for the National record, but couldn’t,” said Tamilarasu, an employee of Railways, Chennai.

Dhanalakshmi, centre, wins the women’s 100m at the 64th National Inter-State senior athletics championships in Chennai on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R. RAGU

Earlier, S. Dhanalakshmi, coming back to the domestic circuit after serving a three-year ban for doping, won the women’s 100m in a time of 11.36s. “I was nervous before the race as this was my first domestic event. But mentally, I was strong and was eager to prove my worth,” she said.

The results (winners only): Men: 100m: S. Tamilarasu (TN) 10.22 (NMR) (OR: Gurindervir Singh, Patiala, 10.27, 2021); 10000m: Abhishek Pal (UP) 30:56.64; pole vault: G. Reegan & M. Gowtham (TN) 5.20m each (NMR) (OR: Siva, Bhubaneswar, 5.11, 2023).

Women: 1000m: S. Dhanalakshmi (TN) 11.36s; 5000m: Seema (HP) 15:42.64 (NMR) (OR: L. Suriya, Guntur, 15:46.92, 2017); hammer throw: Tanya Chaudhary (UP) 63.91m; triple jump: Sandra Babu (Ker) 13.20s.