SLEME create history, Samarajeewa turns table on Wijekoon

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Lional Samarajeewa’s stubborn sprint to oust national record holder Chaminda Wijekoon in the men’s 1,500 metres summed up the overall result of the Sri Lanka Army Athletics Championship.

Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) turned tables on many time champions Artillery Regiment to win the 50th edition of the meet concluded at a floodlit Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

SLEME created history yesterday becoming the first team to end Artillery Regiment’s uninterrupted reign at these championships.

The men’s 1,500 metres was probably the most looked forward to event of the day with national record holder Wijekoon making his return to athletics after a lay off (due to injury sustained in a road accident) at this meet. On the first day of the meet he had turned tables on Samarajeewa to win the latter’s pet event, the 5,000 metres.

However, on the final day the SLEME athlete did the opposite as he beat Artillery Regiment veteran to win the men’s 1,500 metres in a time of three minutes and 51 seconds. That was his third individual medal, having already bagged the gold in the 10,000 metres held in the morning with a time of 30 minutes and 45.98 seconds.

In throwing events, Charith Kapukotuwa earned SLEME maximum points in three events as he bagged gold medals in shot put, discus and hammer throw. Kapukotuwa is doing his higher studies in US but was present to compete for SLEME. Kapukotuwa also established a meet record in the discus throw (51.60m).

Of the final day’s performances the men’s 100 metres performance of Ashan Hasaranga stood out as he beat veteran and reigning national champion Umanga Surendra to the second place. Hasaranga clocked 10.66 seconds to win.

Maduranga, Nilani best athletes

National javelin record holder Sachith Maduranga, who made his swansong at this championship at the age of 23 was adjudged the best athlete of the men’s category, while Nilani Ratnayake was crowned the best athlete in the women’s category for her 10:33.27 seconds feat in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. Maduranga established a new meet record in the javelin with a throw of 78.20 metres.