Nine new Junior National records tumble on Day 3
A total of nine new meet records were set by the end of the third day of the Junior National Athletics Championship 2025, which underway at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama. Dilini Rajapaksha of Lyceum International School, Wattala starred in the Girls’ Under-16 Long Jump by leaping 5.96m to set a new meet record.
Dilini Rajapaksa leaped 5.96m in the Girls’ U-16 Long Jump
In the Boys’ Under-23 200m, Indusara Vidushanga clocked a superb 21.34 seconds, securing another record for his name. Indupa Kalhara Silva from Ananda Shastralaya, Kotte added to the day’s success, setting a new meet record of 21.23 seconds in the Boys’ Under-20 200m final.
Meanwhile, Dhananjana Fernando of Lyceum International School, Wattala made headlines by setting a fresh record of 24.45 seconds in the Girls’ Under-18 200m event. Sylvester’s College, Kandy athlete Janith Jenkins was outstanding in the Boys’ Under-18 Triple Jump, recording a distance of 15.50m. Sumangala College Panadura’s Dilki Nehara also created history in the Girls’ Under-18 Triple Jump with a leap of 12.44 metres.
In the long-distance events, St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura runner Lahiru Achintha produced a fine performance to set a new record in the Boys’ Under-18 3000m. One of the most exciting moments of the day came when Rumesha Tharanga sent the javelin flying 82.93 metres in the Boys’ Under-23 Javelin Throw, smashing the previous record of 70.86m set by Navon Dhananjaya in 2024. Dhananjaya placed second this year with a throw of 73.89 metres.
On the opening days of the championship, Didula Fernando from St. Mary’s College, Chilaw clocked 13.17 seconds in the Boys’ Under-16 100m Hurdles, bettering the old record of 13.63 seconds. Remarkably, four athletes in that race went past the previous mark.
His schoolmate Nimesh Silva claimed another record in the Boys’ Under-16 300m Hurdles, finishing in 39.73 seconds. Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central College also broke the Boys’ Under-20 400m Hurdles record with a sharp run of 50.30 seconds.