Lanka’s cross-country future is bright – Susantha Fernando
“Sri Lanka can forge ahead in cross-country events. This was evident when school level children, both boys and girls, won the Team Championships at the Third Asian Schools Cross-Country Championships in Hong Kong. Officials should take the opportunity to develop the event,” said Susantha Fernando, the coach of Walala A. Ratnayake Central College.
According to sports regulations of the Education Ministry, under 14 girls and boys can take part in the 100 metres events only. But in other countries, there are several athletic events for them to participate in such as the 800 metres, 1500 metres and 5000 metres.
Susantha Fernando suggests that short distance and cross-country events should be included in under 13, 14 and 15 events. He suggests staging school level cross-country races to witness top level races.
The Sports Ministry went out of the way to obtain air-tickets for the team, but little assistance was given by the Education Ministry, according to parents. Even the visa fees had to be borne by the parents.
The Sri Lanka Schools Junior Cross Country teams (boys’ and girls’) won the Third Asian Schools Junior Cross Country Championships, held in Hong Kong on December 4..
Nine Asian countries participated in the event. China ended as the runners-up in the Boys’ section with Indonesia taking third place.
In the Girls’ section, Thailand were second with Hong Kong third.
From Sri Lanka, six boys and six girls took part in the cross country race.
Chamani Herath, Jayanthi Kanekeratne and Prasanthi Ratnayake of Walala Ratnayake MMV, occupied first second and third places in the girls’ cross-country.
In the boys’ race, Chamidu Madusanka of Randiwel MV Kegalle took third place.
| The positions won by the girls’ team:(1) Chamini Herath (Walala Ratnyake MMV); (2) Jayanthi Kanekeratne (Walala Ratnayake); (3) Prasanthi Ratnayake (Walala Ratnayake); (4) Subashani Premaratne (Walala Ratnayake); (7) Gihanti Jayasinghe (Walala Ratnayake) and (17) Hasanthi Madumali (Sujatha Balika Matara).The positions won by the boys’ team: (3) Chamindu Madusanka Ratnayake (Randiwela MV Kegalle); (4) Harsha Karunaratne (Walala Ratnayake); (6) Sithum Sanjaya Denzil (Walala Ratnayake); (8) Dhammika Wijesuriya (Randiwela MV Kegalle); (15) Pradeep Kumara (Walala Ratnayake);(19) Kavishka Eranga (Bandaranayke MV Kalutara). Team Championship (Boys’) – Champions Sri Lanka; Runnres-up: China. Third Place: Indonesia. Team Championship (Girls’) – Champions Sri Lanka; Runners-up: Thailand; Third Place: Hong Kong. | |