Rural youth steal the limelight

By Bernie Wijesekera

On the penultimate day of the 12th National Schools Track and Field Games continued at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday rural athletes provided excellent fare. In three days 21 new records were established and one was equalled.

S. Sivanthika Mihirani de Silva of A. Ratnayake Central Walala winning the under 21 girl’s Pole Vault event. Pic by Ranjith Perera

The best effort was in the girls under 21 400M from R.M.C. Subashini of Senanayake MV Madampe.In the heats she timed 56.67 secos (on Friday). In the finals yesterday, the lass broke her own record with a new time of 55.87 secs (In the girls under 17 100M heats). S. Anandagoda from Mahamaya Kandy equalled Damayanthi Dharsha’s time of 12.54 secs. If one went by last weekend’s Senior Nationals, the schools athletes showed a marked improvement.

Gayanthika Thushari from Suriyawewa Central in the 1,500M. She had determination, strength and stamina to create a new mark in the girls under 21 – 4:38.13. She erased the record held earlier by her former schoolmate Thalanka Sanjeevani 4:43.24.Another record went to a girl in the under 19 Discus throw, W.M. Sonali Kumari. She hurled the Discus to a new distance 38:57M. She is a product from Devamutha MV Polannaruwa.

Last year there were 24 new records. But on the final day today, its bound to be overhauled with several competitive finals on the card commencing at 12. 30 p.m. today.

The much looked forward to marathon will start at 7 a.m.

Results Finals (Day 3)

1500M under 19 boys): 1. K.D. Abeyasinghe (K. Ratnayake MV Walala) 4:01.50.2 (New Record), 2. K.A.A. Amarasiri A, Ratnayake (MVMankikhinna), 3. P. Salinda Prasanna (Gurukula MV).

100M boys under 21: 1 N. Prasad Dharmaratne (Holy Cross Kalutara) 10.91 (Record Heats).
110M Hurdles (Final) under 17 boys: 1. S.D. Ushantha Asiri (Anuradhapura MV) 14.26 (Record), 2. P.G. Buultjena (Vidyartha), 3. K.A.G. Rangakelum (Henagama MV).

400M Girks under 21: 1. R.M.C. Subashini 55.87 (New Record Senanayake MV Madampe), 2. K.N. Kularatne (ElapathaMV),H.H.M.R. Thilekeratne Dudley Senanayake MV Tholangamuwa).