Thirteen meet records were broken while one was equalled at the Annual Central Province Athletic Championship which is now in progress at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy, organised by the Department of Education of the Central Province.

“Over 4,000 athletes are in action at this championship, including some from the remotest part of Central Province including Kiriwana Eliya close to Adams Peak and Wasgamuwa in Hettipola”, said the Director of Physical education and Sports Athula Jayawardena. The Olympic flame was brought from Namini Oya School in Wasgamuwa in Olympic style through over 50 towns in the Province.

The records which were broken so far are;

Girls Under 21 800 metres: Naomi Jayasundera (A. Ratnayake MMV) 2.21.2 mts.
Under 19 girls pole vault: Yasunan Dulanja (Ambagamuwa MMV) 3.8 metres.
Under 17 pole vault girls: P.A.S. Deepani (A. Ratnayake MMV) 3.10 metres.
Under 21 girls pole vault: P.G.S. Ruwanthika (A. Ratnayake MMV) 3.20 metres.
Under 21 girls high jump: R.P.G.W.P. Harischandra (Dheerananda MMV, Menidiwela) 1.60 metres.
Under 19 girls high jump: Krithika Ratnaswara (Kandy Girls High School) 1.50 metres equalled meet records.

Under 19 girls 400 metre hurdles: R.W.D. Dilrukshi (Ambagamuwa MMV) 1.07.1 metres.
Under 21 boys pole vault: R.A.D.B. Dinusha Kumar Munasinghe (A. Ratnayake MMV) 4.10 metres.
Under 19 boys 100 metres: A.R.C. Weerawardena (St. Anthony’s College, Kandy) 49.2 seconds.
Under 17 boys discuss throw: S.W.P. Bavantha (Weerakeppetipola Vidyalaya, Matale) 43.47 metres.
Under 19 discuss throw: H.B.M.Y.P.B. Herath (Sri Sumangala College) 49.95 metres.

Under 800 metres boys: D.M.H.S. Karunaratne (A. Ratnayake MMV), 2.02.4 metres.
Boys Under 18 800 metres: A.R.C. Weerawardena (St. Anthony’s College, Kandy) 1.58.6 metres.
Under 17 boys 400 metres relay: Trinity College – 4.458 metres.
Under 15 boys 100 metres relay: St. Anthony’s College and Dharmaraja College joined winner – 4.8.4 minutes.

L.P.G.Dananjaya from St.Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa and Vidusha Lakshani from Newstead Girls College Negombo were adjudged the best athletes of the 85th edition of the Sir John Tarbet Senior Schools Athletics Championship which concluded at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama yesterday.

The final days proceedings saw Dananjaya establishing a new meet record of 15.57metres in the boys under 20 triple jump event while Isuru Akalanka from Royal College Horana established a new meet record in the boys under 20, 5000metres race walking event.

Vidusha was bestowed with the award for her new record performance of 13.05metres in the Under 20 Triple Jump finals. She also emerged victorious in the Under 20 Long Jump event

Meanwhile, St.Benedict’s College Colombo also set up a new record in the boys under 18 4 x 400m relay by clocking 3:22.15 minutes.

Over 10 new records were established at the championship.

Maris Stella College Negombo aggregated 227.5 points to win the Boys’ Overall Championship ahead of St.Benedict’s College, who were runners up with 107 points.

In the Girls’ category, Walala A.Ratnayake Central College aggregated 212 points to win the Overall title. Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura, were the runners up with 98 points.

[Boys]

Under 16 – High Jump:

1.A.A.M.A. Farid – Sarawana MV Chilaw – 1.79m 2.S.Mathushan – Jaffna Central College – 1.76m 3.C.V.Kasthuriarachchi – S.Thomas’ Mount Lavinia – 1.76m

Under 18 – 1500m :

1.B.G.S.R.T.Bulugahapitiya – Dharmaraja Kandy – 4:13.27mins 2. Gayan Lasantha – Sri Sumangala MV Heeloya – 4:15.04mins 3. Keshan Jayakosy – S.Thomas’ Matara – 4:15.82mins

Under 20 – 1500m:

1.G.H.C.Kushantha – Sri Sumangala MV Heeloya – 4:01.95mins 2.Sahan Chathuranga – Vijitha Central Dickwella – 4:03.90mins 3.W.B.M.Samaraweera – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:04.00mins

Under 16 – 100m Hurdles :

1.H.P.A.D.Ratnayake – St.Benedict’s Colombo -13.90secs 2.Malinda Ratnayake – De Mazenod Kandana – 14.13secs 3.S.D.Kariyawasam – Asoka Vidyalaya Colombo – 14.25secs

Under 18 – 110m Hurdles:

1.Shanaka Perera – Lyceum Wattala – 14.89secs 2.D.H.N.U.Sandeepa – Dharmaraja Kandy – 15.07secs 3.T.M.C.S.Sirikantha – Ranabima Royal Peradeniya – 15.33secs

Under 20 – 110m Hurdles:

1.Akila Ravishanka – Sivali CC Ratnapura – 14.53secs 2.Srimal Jayasanka – De Mazenod Kandana – 14.68secs 3.Amitha Chathuranga – Taxila Horana – 15.85 secs

Under 16 – Javelin Throw:

1.W.S.A.Fonseka – St.Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa – 52.65m 2.Manesh Malintha – St.Rita’s Dammaladeniya – 52.05m 3.Sanjula Thiwanka – Mahinda Galle – 49.79m

Under 20 – Triple Jump:

1.L.P.G.Dananjaya – St.Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa – 15.57m 2.K.J.K.Perera – St.Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa – 15.29m 3.Ryan Wickramaratne – Maris Stella Negombo – 14.39m

Under 18 – 4x400m:

1.St.Benedict’s Colombo – 3:22.15mins N.M.R. 2.Maris Stella Negombo – 3:23.53mins 3.Lumbini Colombo – 3:26.98mins

Under 20 – 5000m Race Walking :

1.Isuru Akalanka – Royal Horana – 24:40.6mins – N.M.R. 2.U.N.M.Deshapriya – Sri Ratnayake MV Palawela – 24:49.9mins 3.O.G.C.J.Somasuriya – Vijaya Matale – 25:09.1mins

[Girls]

Under 16 – Triple Jump:

1.G.R.S.P.Karunanayake – Rajagiri Isuru MV Dippitiya – 10.78m 2.Rebecca Silva – Lyceum Wattala – 10.71m 3.Anjula Fernando – St.Judes Negombo – 10.60m

Under 20 – Pole Vault:

1.J.Aniththa – Mahajana CC Thelippalai – 3.20m 2.G.W.H.S.K.Dharmaratne – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 3.20m 3.P.A.S.Deepani – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 2.70m

Under 18 – Pole Vault:

1.S.Dilani – Mahajana CC Thelippalai – 2.70m 2.Denethi Somaratne – Newstead Negombo – 2.50m 3.K.Kalaimahal – Mahajana CC Thelippalai – 2.40m

Under 18 – 1500m:

1.B.M.I.N.K.Basnayake – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:55.69mins 2.N.L.Wijerathunga – Kegalu BV – 4:56.78mins 3.Kalpani Prasanthika – Vijitha CC Dickwella – 5:02.30mins

Under 20 – 1500m:

1.Nishanthi Dilhara – Lumbini Colombo – 4:49.39mins 2.S.G.M.K.Weerasinghe – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:58.10mins 3.A.H.M.P.Abeysinghe – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:58.30mins

Under 20 – Javelin Throw:

1.K.D.P.Wimalasiri – Dudley Senanayake MMV – 37.83m 2.S.C.Gunawardena – Good Shepherd Convent – 37.31m 3.Iransha Kavindi – Kuliyapitiya CC – 37.13m

Under 18 – Discus Throw:

1.M.P.B.Asiri – Sumana BV Ratnapura – 29.05m 2.S.S.Madushani – Sumana BV Ratnapura – 28.96m 3.Gayana de Silva – Ave Maria Convent Negombo – 28.28m

Under 20 – 100m Hurdles :

1.Shanika Dulakshi – Mary Immaculate Convent Ja-Ela – 15.59secs 2.Kalani Gayathri – Rajapaksa CC Weeraketiya – 16.09secs 3.Hishani Dilrukshi – Dharmapala Pannipitiya – 16.52secs

Under 16 – 100m Hurdles :

1.K.M.D.Kumarasinghe – Sumana BV Ratnapura – 15.57secs 2.Natasha Caldera – St.Bridgets Convent Colombo – 17.12secs 3.H.K.S.Madukala – Veyangoda CC – 17.20secs

Under 18 – 100m Hurdles:

1.Inoka Abeyratne – St.Joseph’s BV Kegalle – 15.15secs 2.H.T.T.T.Thanthirinalge – Maliyadeva BV Kurunegala – 15.58secs 3.N.G.P.R.Gunatilleke – Sumana BV Ratnapura – 15.68secs

Under 18 – Javelin Throw:

1.S.S.Madushani – Sumana BV Ratnapura – 33.52m 2.Lakshi Rupasinghe – Anula V. Nugegoda – 31.90m 3.A.P.K.K.Kulatunga – St.Joseph’s BV Kegalle – 31.17m

Under 18 – Long Jump:

1.Bhagya Deemanthi – Dharmasoka Ambalangoda – 5.61m 2.Poornima Kalpani – Loyola C Daluwakotuwa – 5.57m 3.S.R.P.N.Maduwanthi – Dankotuwa Girls C- 5.54m

Under 16 – 400m :

1.O.M.I.Sathsarani – Vijitha CC Dickwella – 59.79secs 2.Tharaka Divyanjali – St.Joseph’s BV Colombo – 1:00.21mins 3.Anudhi Mithrapinto – Visakha Colombo – 1:00.37mins

Under 18 – 400m:

1.Yamani Dulanjali – Ambagamuwa CC – 57.03secs 2.K.G.D.M.S.Kumarasinghe – Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 59.28secs 3.Stefani Sylvester – Ambagamuwa CC – 1:02.95mins

Under 20 – 400m:

1.Omaya Udayangani – Welimada MMV – 56.70secs 2.Nirmali Madushika – Kathaluwa CC – 57.40secs 3.Saumya Dilrukshi – Holy Cross Gampaha – 59.51secs

Under 16 – 100m:

1.Natalie Malpana – Gateway Rajagiriya – 13.02secs 2.Senadaru Perera – Musaeus Colombo – 13.08secs 3.Piumini Weerasooriya – St.Joseph’s BV Kegalle – 13.13secs

Under 18 – 100m:

1.N.Sharmila – Sujatha Nugegoda – 12.63secs 2.Shafiya Yamick – Viharamahadevi BV – 12.74secs 3.Rasanjali Siriwardena – Southlands Galle – 12.79secs

Under 20 – 100m :

1.P.K.C.D.Pallewatte – St.Joseph’s BV Kegalle – 12.49secs 2.Omaya Udayangani – Welimada MMV – 12.62secs 3.Shalina Fernando – Ladies Colombo – 12.76secs

Under 16 – 4x400m :
1.Sir John Kotelawela V – 4:14.11mins 2.Anuradhapura CC – 4:17.39mins 3.Newstead Negombo – 4:19.99mins

Under 18 – 4x400m:
1.Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:06.99mins 2.Welimada MMV – 4:17.89mins 3.Kuliyapitiya MMV – 4:21.93mins

Under 20 – 4x400m:
1.Walala A.Ratnayake CC – 4:10.41mins 2.Ambagamuwa CC – 4:13.96mins 3.Sumana BV Ratnapura – 4:23.38mins

P.D Bandarawaththa, Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya (11.86M) and Charuka Sandamini, Kiwulakele M.V- Kottukachchi (10.94M) won second and third place respectively.
Meanwhile many athletes suffered during the meet because of the heavy rains and there were no proper facilities for athletes to have their lunch at the venue of the meet.
Although the organized expected over 300 schools from the island and over 3000 athletes to participate at this championship, there was lack of space for them to carry out other needs. There were no hospitality tents. Without shelter from the rain they had to have their meals during the rain with umbrellas held over their heads.
Only six events were able to be completed yesterday and only one meet record was registered. In the discus throw event, Dilshan Perera St Peter’s College Bambalapitiya won first place with distance of 40.82 meters.
D.M.D. Priyalal, Walala Ratnayake with (39.75M) and M. Madushanka with (38.47) from St Rita’s College Wennappuwa won second and third places respectively.
Results on day one
Long jump final
A.D. Rathnayake – St Benedicts College Colombo (6.60M), Shehan Dananjaya – Maris Stella College Negombo (6.53M), Pramodh Madhubhash – Maris Stella College Negombo (6.46M)
5000 M boys
Sahan Chathuranga – Vijitha Central College Dickwella (15.33.74 sec), T. Hemantha – A. Ratnayake CC Walala (15.35.22 sec), P. Jayasinghe – Vidyartha College Kandy (15.50.19 sec)
5000M girls Final
S.G.M.K. Weerasinghe – A. Ratnayake CC Walala (18.46.28 sec), G.G. Piyumi Wasana – Vijitha Central College Dickwella (19.02.18 sec), Kumari Perera – Anurudda MMV Lunuwila (19.25.59 sec)
Shot Putt – Girls
F.S. Rishard – Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya (9.70M), Dilshani Fernando – Ave Maria Convent Negombo (9.01M), W.S.C. Weerasinghe – Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura (8.98M)

Nimali who was in the spotlight for a medal from the moment of selection to the team, delivered as expected with a 2:03.94 sec performance in heavy rainy conditions.
“I expected a medal more than anything, and was able to do that even though I missed the Sri Lanka record (2:03.85 sec) by a few points,” said Nimali, who seemed to be disappointed about the time rather than enjoying the podium finish after her race.
Nimali seemed to be targeting the medal rather than time in the race as she did not try to compete with Indian Tintu Lukka while keeping in close proximity to Chinese athlete Zhao Jing, and ran hard in the last 200m to secure the medal.
“I have three Grand Prix races coming up and expect to set new Sri Lanka records, as well as aim towards IAAF World Championship qualification” added Nimali.
Even though Sri Lanka won the expected 800m medal in the championship, it appeared none of the officials were prepared for the celebration, as Nimali didn’t receive a National Flag when she finished the race, or when she went for the medal ceremony.
Nimali Liyanarachchi wasn’t selected for the Asian Games last year despite being the country’s best 800m runner, and her coach said if she had been given an opportunity there, she may have secured a medal there too. Nimali and her coach Sujith Abeysekara trained some 250km away from the capital in Sooriyawewa, in a place which cannot be called a proper ground.
As mentioned before, Nimali, unlike many others, asked for a ground in Sooriyawewa from the authorities rather than personal benefits, as a ground for Sooriyawewa would have benefitted many athletes from that area, who had done and are doing remarkably well in Sri Lankan athletics.
Meanwhile, her former training partner also from Sooriyawewa, Gayanthika Abeyratne, finished in 6th place (2:07.46 sec).
Nadeeka Lakmali, another prime medal hope for the country, finished in a disappointing 4th position with a best throw of 52.29m. Lakmali was seeded for the bronze medal until the last moment, where Japanese Miyashita Risa threw a distance of 54.76m in her last attempt to seal the bronze. In the event worked off under rainy condition, none of athletes could throw near their seasonal or personal best, except for the winner, Chinese Liu Shiying, who set a new championship record of 61.33m. Almost all of them did not use their usual technique as they tried to throw as far as possible while running a few steps due to the wet and slippery condition of both the javelin and the track.
Vidusha Lakshani, the triple jumper, couldn’t produce a big performance under the rainy weather as she finished 7th with a best of 12.69m jump, which was won by Wang Wupin of China with a 13.76m jump.
Team leader Manjula Kumara Wijesekara was the unlucky athlete of the day as he finished sixth in the rain hampered high jump event, where the world record holder finished in third position. Manjula cleared 2:20m in his third attempt, and after one failure at 2:24m jump, skipped the next two attempts and tried the next height 2:28m. He did it assuming world leader and Asian record holder Qatar athlete Mutaz Barsham will definitely go past the 2:30m mark. But surprising many, including himself, Barsham failed to clear the 2:24m mark in his three attempts, and Manjula must have cursed himself for his previous decision. Nevertheless, he failed to clear 2:28m in his remaining two attempts and finished 6th. Barsham, who cleared 2:20m in first attempt, secured the bronze medal, and if Wijesekera cleared 2:24m without skipping, it was he who would have secured the bronze medal.
Indunil Herath disappointed in the 800m men’s finals as he finished in 5th position with 1:51.51 seconds. Indunil ran 1:50 seconds with ease in the heats and it was expected he would run well below that in the finals. But he couldn’t produce his usual best under heavy rain, and the event was won by Musaab Bala of Qatar in 1:49.40 sec .
The men’s 4X400m relay team finished in fifth position with a time of 3:05.79 seconds, which was won by Qatar beating favourite Saudi Arabia.
Sprinter Femi Ogunode of Qatar, who was in the spotlight to go below the 20 seconds mark in the 200m, couldn’t do so due to the rainy condition, even though he secured the sprinting double as well as 4X400m relay gold medal. Mohommad Saeed of UAE set a new championship record in the 10,000m women’s event in the day, where Indian athlete Babar Lalita who was in third position after 22 laps of the 25 laps race, couldn’t finish due to cramps.
Host china kept their superiority with clean sweeps in the women’s triple jump and shot putt, and won the most number of medals at the championship as expected.