Outstation Athletes stamp their superiority over Urban ‘siblings’
View(s):By Susil Premalal
32nd National School Games Athletics Championships
Outstation Athletes emerged to the fore at the 5-Day 32nd National School Games Athletics Championships conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) at the Bogambara Stadium.
Colombo Schools were able to win only 2 championships. St. Benedict’s College Colombo won the Under (U)-17 Boys Championship while Ladies College bagged the U-15 Girls Championship. All the other Championships were won by schools outside Colombo. Best Athletes- Boys and Girls- were also from outstation schools.
The events were held on grass tracks. If they were on synthetic tracks, the results could have been better and more records would have been registered. Though a Sri Lanka record in the Girl’s Pole Vault was very much on the cards, because Jegathisweeran Anitha of Mahajana College, Jaffna, set a new Sri Lanka record clearing 3.41m at the 42nd National Sports Festival at Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna, she disappointed, clearing only 3.3m at the Bogambara Stadium. Within a fortnight, her performance had dropped by 11cm.
This time, after 24 years, under the National School Games concept, a fresh lease emerged at the National School Games. Apart from the Corporate sponsors, the MoE had to spend nearly Rs 5 billion, for the event. Maris Stella College, Negombo, bagged the Boys’ Championship for the 7th time, while the Girls’ Championship was won by Walala A. Ratnayake MMV for the 14th time. Other than a few setbacks, veteran officials did a splendid job to ensure the meet was conducted in an efficient manner, with Chief Organiser Sunil Jayaweera- MoE’s Special Consultant Sports, playing a major role.
Overall Championships
U-15 Boys: Champions- St. Mary’s College, Chilaw; Runner-up- Vijitha MMV, Dickwella; 2nd Runner-up- St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena.
U-15 Girls: Champions- Ladies College, Colombo; Runner-up: Gateway International School, Rajagiriya; 2nd Runner-up- A. Ratnayake MMV, Wallala.
U-17 Boys: Champions- St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena; Runner-up- Maris Stella College, Negombo; 2nd Runner-up- St.Mary’s College, Kegalle.
U-17 Girls: Champions- A. Ratnayake MMV, Wallala; Runner-up- St. Joseph’s Girls School, Nugegoda; 2nd Runner-up- Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura.
U-19 Boys: Champions- Maris Stella College, Negombo; Runner-up- Weerakeppitipola National School, Akuramboda; 2nd Runner-up- St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy.
U-19 Girls: Champions- A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala; Runner-up- Ambagamuwa MMV, Ambagamuwa; 2nd Runner-up- Sumana Balika, Ratnapura.
U-21 Boys: Joint Champions- Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, and St. Mary’s College, Kegalle. Runners-up- Seevali MMV, Ratnapura; 2nd Runner-up- A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala.
U-21 Girls: Champions- A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala; Runner-up- Sumana Balika, Ratnapura; 2nd Runner-up- Welimada MMV, Welimada.
Jumping Events- Best Athlete U-19 Boys/Girls: Chamal Kumarasiri (DS Senanayake MMV, Mirigama) (Boys Triple Jump 15.52m – New Meet Record)
Throwing Events- Best Athlete U-17 Boys/Girls: R.M.D.I. Ranasinghe (Bandaranaike MV, Gampaha) (Boys Javelin 66.96m – New Meet Record.
Excellent Performance of the Championship Boys/Girls: K.K. Ridma Nishadi (Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda (U-19 Girls Long Jump 5.85m – New Meet Record after 20 years)
Hurdles Best Athlete U-19 Boys/Girls: Uditha Chandrasena (Maris Stella College, Negombo) (Boys 400m Hurdles: 52.9 secs – New Meet Record)
Track Events Best Athlete U-19 Boys/Girls: D.M. Yamani Dulanjali (Ambagamuwa MMV Ambagamuwa) (Girls 400m 56.2 secs – New Meet Record).
Relay Championship Boys: Champions- St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena; Runner-up- Maris Stella College, Negombo; 2nd Runner-up- Trinity College, Kandy.
Relay Championship Girls: Champions- A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala; Runner-up- Sir John Kotalawela MV, Kurunegala; 2nd Runner-up- Ambagamuwa MV, Ambagamuwa.
Best Athlete Boys: Chamal Kumarasiri (DS Senanayake MMV, Mirigama) (U-19 Triple Jump 15.52m – New Meet Record)
Best Athlete Girls: B.M. Hasini Pabodha (Good Shepherd Convent, Wennappuwa) (U-19 Triple Jump 12.66m – New Meet Record)
Overall Champions Boys U-15, U-17, U-19: Maris Stella College, Negombo; Runner-up- St.Benedict’s College, Kotahena; 2nd Runner-up- St. Mary’s College, Chilaw.
Overall Champions Girls U-15, U-17, U-19: A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala; Runner-up- Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura; 2nd Runner-up- Ambagamuwa MMV, Ambagamuwa.
Overall Champions- Western Province; Runner-up- Central Province
Walala A. Ratnayake - Girls' champs
De Mazenod emerged Boy's' champs