The 84th John Tarbet Athletic Championships successfully concluded on the 15th of October at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakse International Stadium.
The tournament commenced on the 13th of October with the participation of 5200 athletes for the year 2014 under the patronage of Minister of Education Hon. Bandula Gunawardhene. The tournament this year turned out to be a highly competitive one with many games records being set by athletics and Asiri Wijesekara qualifying for IAAF World Youth Championship 2015.
Asiri Wijesekara representing Gateway College, Colombo smashed Daham Madawa’s (Richmond College) nine-year record with a feat of 22.25 seconds to win the U-16 boys 200m which was eventually the fastest race of all age group finals of the boys 200m. The qualifying standard set for the IAAF World Youth Championship 2015 for boys 200m was 22.25 seconds.
While Asiri Wijesekara qualified himself, nine other game records were set during the second day of the tournament. The most significant fact about these nine records is that, these were set by athletes from the outskirts of Colombo.
The nine records are as follows;
Under 20 – Girls – Long Jump
New Record: Sarangi Silva – Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya – Panadura – 6.01 m
Previous Record: IS Chandrasena – Ferguson Girls College – Ratnapura – 5.80m (2006)
Under 16 – Boys – 100mx4
New Record: St Benedict’s College – Kotahena – 44.41sec
Previous Record: St Benedict’s College – Kotahena – 44.82sec (2008)
Under 18 – Boys – Triple Jump
New Record: Grecian Dhananjaya – Joseph Vaz College – Wennappuwa
15.07m
Gayan Samaraweera – Manampitiya Maha Vidyalaya -14.61m (2003)
Previous Record: Atheetha Karunasinghe – Kandangamuwa Maha Vidyalaya – 14.61m
(2012)
Under 18 – Boys – Shot Put
New Record: MAM Madushanka – St. Reeta College – Thaldeka
16.28m
Previous Record: Kushan Shashika – St Peters College – Gambalapitiya – 15.68m
(2013)
Under 18 – Boys – 3000m
New Record: Sahan Chathuranga – Vijitha College – Dickwella – 8:48.46mins
Previous Record: BA Sandaruwan – Gurukula College – Kelaniya – 8:57.09mins(not
mentioned)
Under 18 – Girls – Triple Jump
New Record: BMH Prabodha – Anuradhapura Central College – 11.98m
Previous Record: Vidusha Lakshani – Newstead Girls College – Negombo -11.82m
(2012)
Under 16 – Boys – 200m
Asiri Wijesekara – Gateway College – Rajagiriya – 22.26sec
Dhaham Madawa Silva – Richmond College – Galle – 22.65sec
(2006)
Under 18 – Boys – High Jump
New Record: R Roshan Dhammika – Kularatne Central College – Godakawela –
2.08m
Previous Record: Manjula Kumara (National Champion) – 2.07m
Under 16 – Boys – Discuss Throw
New Record: GA Shalin Dileesha – 50.70m
Previous Record: KAP Jayawardena – Ananda College – Chilaw -49.90m (2010)
One Game Record equalized
Under 16 – Boys – 400m Hurdles
PL Kodikara – Maliyadeva College – Kurunegala – 56.29sec
T Dilshan – Kuliyapitiya Central College – 56.29sec
With new records being set and old records being dumped the 84th John Trabet senior athletic championships concluded in a successful manner.
