Madhumali creates marathon history at 43rd NSF
Madhumali Perera of the Western Province created women’s Lankan marathon history when she finished the 42km course in only 2.55:36 clipping off almost a minute off the previous holder of the event — Manjula Kumarasingha also of the Western Province (2.56:00 in 2010) at the 43d National Sports Festival held at Mahiyangana, yesterday.
Taking the second place in this event was V. Krishanthini of the Central Province (2.57:28) while B.G.L. Anuradhini also of the Central Province was placed third with a timing of 3.00:00. In the men’s event R.A.P.D. Arunasiri of the North Central Province bagged the first position as he finished the course in 2.25:13. G.K.S. Gunasekera (2.25:14) of the Western was placed second while Vijitha Kumara of the Southern Province (2.27:17) finished third.
In the Cycling (racing) event which was also held in Mahiyangana S.A.S. Dimantha of the Western Province won the men’s 140km event in 3.31:19 to finish first, while M.A.D. Madonza also of the Western Province was placed second with a timing of 3.3: 19. The third place went to Buddika Warnakulasuriya of the North Western Province and he finished the distance in 3.3:19.
Even in the women’s event the timings were the same. P.A.S. Priyadharshani of the North Western Province, Dinesha Dilrukshi also of the NWP and D.A.S. Dilhani (WP) had identical timing of 1.54:35.