Kathmandu, January 20:

A wonder girl from Mid-western Region, Keshari Chaudhary set another national record during the National Open Track and Field Championship, organised by Gorkha Runners Club, here today.

Keshari broke 10-year old women’s long jump record by setting a new mark of 5.20 metres. Previously Devi Maya Paneru held the record of 5.16 metres set here in 1999. It was Keshari’s third national record in two days. On Monday, she set national records in triple jump and high jump breaking her own mark she had set last year.

“I was confident of breaking long jump record,” said Keshari. She said she was consistently jumping 5.10m during practice and was hopeful to better that mark here. Keshari, who is also a national cricket player, said that she would now concentrate only on athetics and cricket. “I will not play volleyball anymore.”

Apart setting three national records, Keshari also bagged two silvers on on Monday. She finished only one second behind Chandra Kala Thapa in 100m while she fell 12 centimetres behind gold medallists Basanti Kumal (8.80 metre) in shotput.

With three new new national records under her belt, Keshari was declared the best female athelete while Bal Krishna Chaudhary, who also set a new national record in men’s high jump on Monday, was adjudged the best male althlete. Keshari received Rs 30,000 -- Rs 10,000 each for setting three national records -- while Bal Krishan got Rs 10,000 for his high jump achievement.

Other gold medal winners of the day were Basanti Kumal of Bright Land Higher Secondary School of Banke in women’s javalin throw (33.98 metre), Narendra Jung Shah of Nepal Police Club (NPC) in men’s javelin throw (58.60 metres), Surya Maya Rai of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club in women’s 5,000m (18 min, 44.3 sec), Pramila Rijal of APF in women’s 200m (26.75 sec), Gopal KC of NPC in men’s 200m (22.69 sec), Aas Narayan Chaudhary of APF in men’s 1,500m (4:16.7 min), Yogendra Dhimal of Fulkumari Mahato Trust in men’s long jump (6.40 metres), Santosh Shrestha of APF in men’s 110m hurdles (16.40 sec), APF Club in men’s 4x400m relay (3:33.4 min), Ramita Chaudhary in junior girls’ long jump (4.35 metres) and Santosh KC of SOS Herman Gminer School in junior boys’ long jump (4.50 metres).

Meanwhile, APF Club won the team championship with 11 gold while NPC finished second with six gold medals. Fulkumari Mahato Trust came third with four gold. In all, 30 track and field events were held during the two-day championship.