Saints Quadrangular Athletic Meet on June 1 and 2
View(s):One of the most looked forward to events in Sri Lanka schools athletics calendar will be held this year on June 1 and 2 at the St. Peter’s College grounds in Bambalapitiya. The meet, which had its inauguration in 1985, brings together the best athletic talents, present and past of the four leading Catholic boys schools in the country, namely St. Anthony’s, Katugastota, St. Benedict’s Kotahena, St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s colleges. In addition to the keen competition on the field, the event also fosters brotherhood, friendly rivalry and camaraderie among the present and past students of the four schools, who share a common heritage.
All four schools have at one point, been in the forefront in the schools athletics scene, winning All-Island Level Championships. In the early years, especially during the 1930s to 1960s, St. Joseph’s produced many dine athletes, who excelled at national and international meets. St. Peter’s had its glory days in the early 1960s and later in the 1980s. St. Benedict’s came to the fore in the new millennium, winning its first All-Island Schools Athletics Championship in 2007. Since then, they have been a force to be reckoned with. St. Anthony’s were competitive in the 1950s and have produced many top athletes.
St. Benedict’s, being the hosts this year, the joint organising committee is headed by past Benedictine athlete, Brigadier Rohan Wettasinghe and consists of top past athletes from the four schools. Special mention should be made of Sriyal de Silva of St. Benedict’s and Roshan Abeygoonewardene of St. Peter’s, who have worked valiantly in the last decade to maintain the high standard of the Saints Quadrangular Athletics Championship. The meet is sponsored by Spinner energy drink, Nations Trust Bank as platinum sponsors and several more corporate sponsors. The meet is sure to bring out a high standard of athletics on both days.
The Invitational Relays with the best talent in Colombo’s top boys and girls schools will provide additional glamour to the meet on the second day. Present students, old boys and parents of the four schools are expected to be in attendance in numbers to cheer their respective schools.