A celebration of young talent from all parts of the island; the 53rd Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championships were carried out on the 18th, 19th and 20th of November, at the Kotawila Sports Complex. This meet is one of the most anticipated ones on the annual Athletics calendar, and this year was no different. Filled with the incredible energy, enthusiasm, and talent of our country’s young athletes, this event is a celebration of determination, hard work, and the spirit of sportsmanship, from athletes of various backgrounds coming together to push their limits.
The three days were very eventful, as a total of 12 records were broken, similar to the Senior John Tarbat Athletic meet held in the previous month, where the older athletes laid waste to numerous previously held records too. This shows us the promise of the young athletes, who are already setting up to have a similar future. Among these records, four of them belonged to the girls’ category; in the U15 Long Jump event, D. Rajapaksha of Lyceum International School, Wattala, set a new meet record of an impressive 6.04M. Further, in the U14 600M event, G Aloka, from the same school (Lyceum Int. School, Wattala) clocked a timing of 1:41.7 Minutes too. There were also two records broken in the Shot-Put event, as D D Karunarathne, from Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo 5, broke the record in the U15 category, with a throw of 12.59M. Consequently, for the U14 category, P A Hasarali from Sussex College Ratnapura broke her age groups’ record with a massive throw of 11.19M.
Additionally, there was a grand total of eight records broken in the Boys’ category of this competition, across various track and field events. young athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, breaking long-standing records and setting new standards in their respective categories. Among these achievements, M. Rajasinghe from St. Joseph’s College- Colombo 10, set a new record with a throw of 56.07 meters in the U15 Javelin Throw event. Also, H A L Z Dananjaya from St Benedict’s C – Colombo 13 set a new record with an impressive jump of 5.55 meters, marking a new record in the U13B Long Jump event.
Consequently, two records were broken in the U12 and U13 High Jump events, with K W S Pabasara from Vijitha M M V – Dikwella and S inura Anjana Ka/Imbulana M V respectively setting new highs of 1.55M (U12) and 1.64M (U13). Further, A Theverapperuma from Gateway C – Colombo displayed his athletic prowess by breaking two records in the U14 100m and 200m event, with a timing of 11.6 Seconds for the former and 23.4 Seconds for the latter.
It was A S R L S Salgado from St Benedict’s C – Colombo 13 who finished the 600m in a remarkable 1:29.8 minutes, breaking the record for this event. It was also this very school that set a new standard in the U13 4x100m relay, setting a new standard by completing the race in 50.7 seconds, breaking the previous record for this event.
Additiomally, there were also 3 records which were equalled; in the U12B High Jump event, K W S Pabasara from Vijitha M M V – Dikwella was able to jump the height of 1.55M, only unable to clear the next height in his three attempts. In the hurdle events, M Dulakshi Kawindya in the U13G category, from Mahasen N College- Nikaweratiya, finished the race in exactly 12.0 seconds, on par with the currently existing record. Similarly, in the 80M Hurdles event for the U14G category, R D R Ranathunga from Gamini N S- Nuwaraeliya clocked an impressive timing of 11.1 Seconds, which was unfortunately not enough to set a new record.
Overall, the winners of the competition were Maris Stella College, Negombo, in the Boys’ Cateogry, and St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena were the Runner-up. In the Girls’ Ctaeogry, Lyceum IS, Wattala were the overall winners, with Ave Maria Convent, Negombo being the runner-up. Additionally, the champions of the Girls’ Relay were Girls High school, Kandy, whereas, the champions of the Boys’ Relay was St. Benedict’s College, Kotehana.
Further, the Champions of the U12 Boys was Thurstan College, Colombo, while the Champions of the U12 Girls was a tie bewteen Lyceum IS- Nugegoda, Vijitha M M V- Dickwella and Holy Family Convent, Colombo. Also, the Champions of the U13 Boys was St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena and Maris Stella College, Negombo. In the U13 Girls Cateogry, Mahasen NS- Nikaweratiya. Maris Stella College was the Champion of the U14 Boys, and it was Ave Maria Convent, Negombo and Hewawitarana MV that won the championship of the U14 Girls.
The Champions of the U15 Boys was St. Joesph’s College, Colombo, and in the respective girls’ category, Lyceum IS, Wattala became the champions too. The best 400m Runner was awarded to N. Ranasinghe from Gateway College, Negombo. The Best Athlete in the Boys Category was awarded to D.A.S. Samalka from Gonagala MV, while D. Rajapaksha from Lyceum IS, Wattala won this award in the Girls’ Category. Rajapaksha also secured the award for Best Long Jumper as well.
In the many events held, it is evident that many of the participants were able to obtain a merit as they reached the necessary standard for that age group. It is clear that these athletes have a bright future ahead of them, with their impressive timings at such young ages, each year only bringing about more talent. We wish them the best as they continue along their journey, as they aim for bigger and better stages to display their talent.
The list of the winners of their respective categories are as follows, over the course of the three days:
Girls’ Categories
U12- 80m- T Perera, Lyceum I S- Nugegoda- 11.4M
U12 100m- V S Abeyrathne- Horizon C I – Malabe- 14.3
U13 100m- M Dulakshi Kawindya- Mahasen N College- Nikaweratiya- 13.4
U13- 200m- M Dulakshi Kawindya- Mahasen N College- Nikaweratiya- 27.50
U14- 100m- K S N H Perera, Sri Pangnananda N College- Raddoluuw- 13.2
U14- 200m- G L Suwarnamali, Hewavitharana M V – Rajagiriya, 26.8
U14- 400m- G L Suwarnamali- Hewavitharana M V – Rajagiriya,
U14- 600m- G. Aloka, Lyceum Int: Sch: -Wattala, 1:41.7 (NMR)
U15- 100m- D. Rajapaksha- Lyceum International School -Wattala- 12.6
U15- 200m- S A D Senanayake, Ananda N S – Chilaw, 26.60
U15 400m- Gateway College- Negombo- 1:00.7
U15- 800m- K G M N Dharmadasa, Sujatha V – Rambukkana- 2:28.0
Hurdles
70m- U13- M Dulakshi Kawindya- Mahasen N College- Nikerawetiya- 12.0 (EMR)
75m- U14- H A L Sadali, Royal Int: School- Kurunegala- 12.2
80m- U15- J G C Dedvindi, Viharagala M V- Sooriyawewa- 12.40
Hurdles
75m- U13- P H Silva, Trinity College- Kandy- 11.6
75m- U14- S Aahas, De Mazenod College- Gampaha- 11.1
80m- U15- R D R Ranathunga, Gamini N S- Nuwaraeliya- 11.3
High Jump
U13- D warnakulasooriya, Lyceum I S- Wattala- 1.47
U15- D. Rajapaksha- Lyceum International school- Wattala- 1.65
Long Jump
U12- H M V Dimansa- Giradurukotte C C – Giradurukotte- 4.65
U13- R A C Perera, Lyceum International School -Panadura- 5.06
U14- D A S Shamalka- Gonagala M V- Gonagalapura- 6.54
U14 – K A S M Perera, Good Shepherd Balika M V- 5.21 Meters
Shot Put
U13- Ayilai Ahilan, Chundikuli Girls College- 9.02
U14- P A Hasarali- Sussex C- Ratnapura- 11.19
Discus Throw
U15- D D Karunarathne, Visakha V – Colombo 05- 32.81M
Javelin Throw
U14- O Dewrada, Good Shepherd Convent – Kotahena- 28.28M
U15- A Samasthi- OKI I S- Kandana- 29.14
Boys’ Categories
U12- 80m- M P Sri Ravishan, Thurstan C- Colombo 7, 10.8
U12- 100m- M P Sri Ravishan, Thurstan C- Colombo 7- 13.8
U13 100m- R Thenuka- Maris Stella College – Negombo- 12.8
U13- 200m- A C H Munasinghe, St Benedict’s C- Colombo 13- 25.30
U14- 100m- A Thevarapperuma, Gateway C- Colombo- 11.6
U14- 200m- A Theverapperuma, Gateway C- Colombo- 26.6
U14- 600m- A S R L S Salgado, St Benedict’s C – Colombo 13- 1:29.8 (NMR)
U15- 100m- W S N Wanasingha- Dorawaka Siriniwasa M V – Dorawaka- 11.8
U15- 200m- M M Malimage, Isipathana College- 23.60
U15 400m- M M Malimage, Isipathana College- 53.0
U15- 800m- R D Amarasinghe, Hendiyagala M V- 2:04.9
High Jump
U12- K W S Pabasara- Vijitha M M V- Dikwella- 1.55
U13- S I Anjana- Imbulana Sirisena M V – Imbulana- 1.64 (NMR)
U14- M. Pio, St Peter’s C – Colombo 4- 1.65
Long Jump
U15- T Lakshith, Anuruddha Kumara N S -Nawalapitiya, 6.38
Shot Put
U13- D Dobeshan- St Xavier’s Boys College – Mannar- 11.67M
U15- M Rajasignhe- St. Joseph’s College- Colombo 1-, 14.02
Discus Throw
U14- D W Gamage- Bakamuna Mahasen N S – Bakamuna- 38.49
U15- W S P Fernando, St. Mary’s College- Chilaw- 45.61
Javelin Throw
U14- G H Wimalarathna- Lyceum Int: Sch: – Kurunegala- 46.49
Relays
Girls
4x100m- U12, Holy Family Convent- Colombo- 58.5
4x100m- U13, St Thomas Girls High S – Matara- 55.1
4x100m- U14, Ave Maria Convent – Negombo- 53.1
4x100m- U15, Girls High School- Kandy- 52.8
Boys
4x100m- U12, Thurstan C – Colombo 7- 56.6
4x100m- U13, St Benedict’s C – Colombo 13- 51.2
4x100m- U14, Royal C – Colombo 07- 47.9
4x100m- U15, Dharmapala C- Pannipitiya- 46.6
showcase their skills, and demonstrate the results of months of training and dedication. Whether they’re sprinting down the track, leaping through the air, or competing in the field events, each athlete here is giving their best and representing the true essence of athletics.
