The University of Sabaragamuwa was crowned Overall Champions at the 13th Sri Lanka University Games, Track and Field Championships held on the 27th and 28th July 2019. Athletes representing fourteen state Universities from across the Island bagged a total of 14 breath-taking records this year, concluding an intense 2 days of competition on a high note.

The University of Sabaragamuwa (UOS) was successful in in both men’s and women’s competitions this year. Dominating the team events, UOS conquered the much-awaited sprint relay, the 4 X100m Men’s event, clocking a time of 42.49 seconds. Their time bettered the existing record in the event that was established by them in 2016 at 42.8 seconds. The men from Sabaragamuwa showcased an outstanding performance in the 4 x 400m relay as well, managing an excellent timing of 3:24.75 minutes. 

The first event of the Championships, the Men’s Pole Vault event saw a New Meet Record. B. L. A. Lavanan from the University of Peradeniya achieved a result of 3.91m surpassing his own meet record, measured at 3.70m in 2016. 

R.R.D. Ranathunga had the time of his life at the competition, establishing 3 new meet records. He excelled in the Men’s 110m Hurdle event with an outstanding performance of 14.64 seconds, topping the previous record of 15.3 seconds shared by two athletes from 2016. With a height of 2.06m Ranathunga laid claim to a 12-year-old record established in 2007 by J. S. S. Fernando from the University of Kelaniya. However, the highlight of the day was his leap in the Triple Jump event, as he cleared a distance of 15.45m, edging out his fellow competitors. This was also a twelve-year-old record previously held by J. S. S. Fernando. 

Omaya Udayangani, a representative at the World University Games 2019, grabbed the spotlight as the sprint queen of the championship, securing 2 New Meet Records; she did so in the 200m event, clocking 25.21 seconds and the 400m event where she managed a timing of 56.30 seconds. The 400m Hurdles Gold was bagged by A.P.M.S.K. Abayarathna, a fellow teammate of Udayangani from the University of Sabaragamuwa. She established a New Meet Record with a timing of 1:06.21 minutes, tearing up a nine-year-old record held by Thulacy Weerasekara from the University of Peradeniya.  

Read More : Team Sri Lanka for World University Games

Hashini Paboda Balasooriya supported the athletes from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with her extraordinary performance in the Women’s Triple Jump, where she managed a leap of 12.91m to establish a New Meet Record, erasing the previous record of 11.80m established in 2016. 

K.A. P. Jayewardana from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura secured a New Meet Record in the Men’s Discuss Throw Event. His performance of 39.36m surpassed the previous record of 37.64m established in the year 2016 by a fellow teammate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

With a solid performance in the 800m event, R. M. Nifras from the University of Colombo grabbed onto a Gold with a New Meet Record timing of 1: 54: 26 minutes. Nifras, known for his world class stride in the 1500m event, established a New Meet Record with a timing of 4:00.50 minutes. The surpassed record was previously credited to N. M. C. C. Nawasinghe from the Sabaragamuwa University, established in 2016. 

Read More : 3 athletes, 3 medals for Sri Lanka on the track

The Wayamba University shone in the Men’s 5000m event, with G. A. C. S. W. Arachchi taking his final record-breaking step at 16.26.6 minutes. The previous record of the event was established six years ago in 2013 by P. W. G Sanjeewa representing the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

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The University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Colombo trailed behind the champions of Track and Field at the championship, the University of Sabaragamuwa. 

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See Day 01 Photos: Sri Lanka University Games – Day 01