THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tamil Nadu's G Laxshmanan, who is representing Services in the ongoing National Games, clocked 13:50.05 mins to occupy the top step of the podium in the men's 5000m event here at the University Stadium here on Monday.
The hosts, who are tipped to do well in track and field events, opened their account with a fine gold through O P Jaisha who bagged gold in the women's 5000m race.
Jaisha crossed the finishing line in 15:31.37 minutes to bag the precious metal ahead of Maharasthra duo of Lalita Babar and Swati Gadhave, who clocked 15:46.73 mins and 16:26.06 respectively.
Kerala's Preeja Sreedharan, for whom the Games will be the final athletics meet in her career, came a distant fourth finishing in 16:59.99 mins.
In the women's high jump, Karnataka's Sahana Kumari came first while Kerala's Stenny Michael T P, Madhya Pradesh's Mallika Mondal and West Bengal's Swapna Barman shared silver.