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Inter-International schools swmming championships
CIS take charge on day one
By M.Shamil Amit

Katinka Wilminck of OSC winning the third heat in the U-12, 100 metres free style girl’s event. Pic by Dinuka Liyanawatte

Colombo International School took a commanding lead of more than 100 points over defending champions Asian International School at the end of the first day of the two day Inter-International swimming meet held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The highlight of the first day meet was the nine records being established

Tiny Naveenthan Kurukkal of Belvoir International was responsible for two records. Kurukkal who first shone in the 200 metres Individual Medley in the under twelve age group with a timing of 3.10:76 seconds came up with another superb perfomance in the afternoon session to make a new mark in the boy's 50 metre Dolphin Stroke with a timing of 40.16 seconds. Among the girls, Minuruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International Kandy, did well to establish a new record when she clocked 39:21 seconds in the under 14 Girls 50 metre breast stroke event. The other girl to set up a new mark at the meet was Gayani Gunasekera of the Colombo International School who won the 50 metres breast stroke Girls under ten event with a timing 55:70 seconds.

In another under 14 event -- Boys 200 metre Individual Medley, Ben Thomson of the British School clocked 3 minutes 01:12 seconds to win his event. The first two to get to the winning post in the Under 10 breast stroke Senal Senanayake of Lyceum International School and Fahim Faizoom of Belvoir School broke the old record with timings of 50.64 and 51.00 seconds.

Uvindu Perera of Royal Institute was another swimmer who broke two records. He first set a new record in the Under 12 100 metre freestyle event with a timing of 1.17.40 seconds and then later in the day set another record in the same age category in the 50 metre back stroke with a timing of 42.02 seconds. The last record of the day was set by Onelo Gilbert who won the 50 metre freestyle event in the Under 10 category.

There were three events held in the under 19 category with Jehan de Alwis of CIS and Dharshana Tennekoon of Lyceum IS winning the 50 metre freestyle and 200 metre freestyle events respectively while Uma Dharmadasa of Asian International was a clear winner in the girls 200 metre freestyle event.

The events on the first day was worked for the junior swimmers from under 14 downwards and the champions in both the boys and girls category were selected with Onello Gilbert of CIS, Nveenthan Kurukkal of Belvoir and Ben Thomson of British School being adjudged the under 10, 12 and 14 champions in boys category and Parami Ranawaka of British School, Hiruni Kandawidaarachchi of Lyceum International and Minuruwani Samarakoon of Gateway IS Kandy being judged the under 10,12 and 14 champions.

The meet organized by Asian International School for the tenth year is being contested by over 1200 competitors from 17 international schools around the island. The meet will be continued today at 9.00 a.m. with 89 events scheduled to be held for the day which will be conducted for the Under 19 swimmers for both the boys and girls. Defending champions AIS are favourites to win the title for the sixth successive year as they posses a strong set of swimmers in this age group.

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