Impressive St Peter’s clinch first major swimming title
View(s):St Peter’s swimmers created history by emerging overall champions in the All Island Swimming Championship and in the process bagged their first major title for the first time in the history since they took to the sport in the year 1991.
Added to clinching the overall title one of their swimmer Akalanka Peiris was crowned the most outstanding swimmers of the All Island National Swimming Championship which was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium recently.
The proud champions posing for picture (left to right) – Devin Ranasinghe, Nimesh Wimalasiri, Rasitha Perera, Adithya Nanayakkara, Akalanka Peiris, Pawan Palletenna, Geethanjana Perera, Vimul Gunawardena, Dehan Fernando, Praveen Ukwatte, Nuwanga Fernando
Akalanka has been one of their top notch swimmers in the Under 15 category having bagged many titles and also the best swimmers awards in various other swimming meets.
Akalanka by virtue of winning the first place in the 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m dolphin and the 200m individual medley event was adjudged the most outstanding swimmer All Island National Swimming Championship.
Apart from these top performances he has won laurels in the Under 15 age category at the junior nationals’ championships 2014 in the 100m backstroke, 50m fly, 50m backstroke and in the 50m freestyle events.
The talented swimmer has the potential to become a top class swimmer in the future and has also secured top spots at the annual Public Schools Swimming Meet this year.
At the recently concluded All Island National Schools Swimming Championship Akalanka along with Rasitha Perera, Nuwanga Fernando and Nimesh Wimalasiri came second in the Under 15 freestyle relay event.
The others to shine in the Under 15 age group for St Peter’s were Adithya Nanayakkara and Devin Ranasinghe who both secured placings to accumulate points for them
In the Under 17 age group the Peterite swimmers comprising of Vinul Gunawardena, Dehan Fernando, Geethanjana Perera and Praveen Ukwatte secured third places in the medley relay and the freestyle relay events.
The Peterite swimmers in all amassed 33 points which was sufficient for them to emerge the overall champions for the first time in the history of 23 years of participation.
Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin the Rector of St Peter’s and the sports coordinator Rev. Fr. Sharm Dassanayake were both highly appreciative of the young swimmers on their historic and splendid performance.
They appreciated the hard work put in by the sports secretary Troy Barthlet, master in charge Jude Denzil Fernando, assistant teacher in charge Mrs. Sujeewa Dias and the two live wires, coaches, Mahi Chandralal, Upul Wijithasiri and Rajindra Perera who together combined to bring glory and for St Peter’s.
-M.Shamil Amit