Gateway Kandy’s Saad Faleel crowned Best Athlete at ISAC 2026
View(s):Gateway College did not merely participate at ISAC 2026, it delivered excellence on every front. Hosting the International Schools Athletics Championship (ISAC) for the fourteenth time since its inception in 2001, Gateway once again demonstrated its capacity to organise a championship of national significance while simultaneously dominating on the track and field.
The standout performer of the meet was undoubtedly Saad Faleel of Gateway College, Kandy. Electrifying in the sprints, he shattered the 100m New Meet Record with a blistering run of 10.44 seconds, claimed gold in the 200m, and was crowned Under-20 Boy’s Champion. His extraordinary performance earned him the silverware presented for Best Male Athlete, the prestigious R.I.T. Alles Challenge Trophy, and the Edexcel Challenge Trophy for Best Performer of the Meet. It was a performance that will long be remembered in ISAC history.
Ashain Theverapperuma, the U-16 Boy's Champion receiving his trophy from Ramantha Alles, the Chairman of ISAC 2026
Gateway College, Colombo produced a commanding overall display, securing 18 gold, 19 silver, and 16 bronze medals. Gateway Kandy too excelled by winning six each of gold and silver, and three bronze medals, reaffirming the strength of the Gateway sporting programme across campuses.
Among the individual champions, Ashain Theverapperuma delivered a remarkable triple in the Under-16 category, winning the 100m, 200m, and 400m to be crowned Best Under-16 Boy’s Champion and recipient of the Belvoir College International School Challenge Trophy. Nethara Ranasinghe was equally outstanding, securing the Under-18 Girl’s Championship and the Ilma International School Challenge Trophy after winning the 200m, 400m, and anchoring her relay team to gold.
Nethara Ranasinghe, U-18 Girl's Champion receiving her trophy from Dayan Fernando, Chairman TISSL
The championship witnessed a rewriting of the record book with six New Meet Records established, alongside one equalled record and one performance surpassing a previous mark. The Under-14 Boys’ 4x100m relay team of Sanula Dissanayake, Sethun Perera,
Lakdiv Sisirakumar,
and Methula Palliyaguruge, clocked a record 51.23 seconds. Ashain Theverapperuma set a new Under-16 Boy’s 200m record clocking 22.79 seconds. Jadon Edwin equalled the Under-18 Boy’s 100m record in 10.98 seconds, while Shanuka Costa set a new Under-18 Boy’s 200m record achieving 21.68 seconds. The Under-18 Boys’ 4x100m relay quartet of Silaksha Niwan, Jadon Edwin, Zaid Isthiquar, and Shanuka Costa powered to a record 43.16 seconds finish.
Saad Faleel receiving the Championship Trophy from Emma Whale, Vice President Assessment and Qualifications, Pearson
On the girls’ side, Nethara Ranasinghe broke the Under-18 Girl’s 400m record clocking 58.13 seconds, while Ranuki Vonara bettered the previous record in the Under-20 Girl’s Discus with a throw of 32.92 metres.
Gateway’s medal haul reflected strength across every age group. Nenuka Abeyratne secured gold in both Shot Put and Discus events. Sanula Dissanayake claimed the Under-14 Boy’s 100m title, while Bisath Jayakody won gold in the Under-12 High Jump. For the girls, Luthara Kodikara triumphed in the Under-18 Girl’s 100m, Vinali Wickramasinghe won the 100m Hurdles, Tiana Gabbalage claimed victory in the Under-14 High Jump, and Warsha Wimalasekara secured the Under-20 400m title.
Gateway Kandy also produced outstanding middle distance performances, with Sakith Edisinghe Arachchi winning the Under-18 Boy’s 400m and 800m and anchoring the victorious 4x400m relay alongside Ihsan Thowfeek, Thinuka Damyuru, and Ranithu Pihiliange. Saeed Faleel added to Kandy’s success with gold in the Under-14 Boy’s 80m Hurdles.
The International Schools Athletics Championship was founded by the late educationalist R.I.T. Alles, whose vision was to build camaraderie among international schools while nurturing sporting excellence. Twenty four editions later, that vision continues to inspire. ISAC 2026 was not simply a championship. It was a celebration of discipline, preparation, and collective strength. Gateway College once again demonstrated that excellence in organisation and excellence in performance can go hand in hand.