Susanthika moves on in 200 metres

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Sydney: Controversial Sri Lankan sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe easily won her opening heat in the women's 200 metres on Wednesday to qualify second fastest for the second round.

Jayasinghe finished in 22.53 seconds, just behind the 22.50 by Beverly McDonald of Jamaica in another heat. Favourite Marion Jones of the United States won her heat in 22.75, the sixth fastest time, while Cathy Freeman of Australia ran an easy 23.11 to also move into the second round on Wednesday night.

The semi-finals and final will be run on Thursday. Jayasinghe said last week she had put a drug scandal and injury worries behind her and felt she could repeat her surprise silver medal in the world championships three years ago.

That performance in Athens shocked the athletics world and made her a national hero. Months later she tested positive for an anabolic steroid but was later cleared by Sri Lankan athletics officials.

Jayasinghe was then hit by lower back and hamstring problems and a dispute with sports officials in Sri Lanka which led to her going to the United States to train.

Sri Lanka have won only one Olympic medal, a silver in the 400 metres hurdles by Duncan White in 1948 in London.



(c) Reuters Limited.