92nd Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship commences

Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship 2024

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The highly anticipated Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship is set to deliver exceptional performances at school level, as the three-age category event kicked off today at the Sugathadasa Stadium. 

Among the standout athletes are Lyceum International Wattala’s emerging talent, Dilni Rajapaksha, in the Under-16 category, and Ambagamuwa Central’s hurdler Ayomal Akalanka in the Under-20 category. More than a dozen competitors are poised to break records during the four-day competition. 

Rajapaksha, just 14 years old, recently claimed the best athlete title at the Western Province Schools Games with a remarkable 6.26-metre-long jump. She is now expected to set a new meet record in the Under-16 category. Having already impressed at this year’s Junior National Championships, her biggest challenge may come from the worsening track conditions at the Sugathadasa Stadium, which could hinder her chance at achieving an extraordinary performance. 

Tharani Nirmina from Holy Cross College, Gampaha, is another standout athlete in the Under-16 girls’ category, aiming to break the meet record in the 100 metres. 

In the Under-16 boys’ division, Nethan Willaddara of Rahula College, Matara, will be looking to replicate his Junior National Championship success in the 800 metres. He is one of the few Sri Lankan athletes in his age group to have run the 800 metres in under two minutes. 

In the Under-18 category, Lyceum’s high jumper Tharusha Mendis, who has performed well in previous championships, is in great form and expected to excel again. Shavindu Avishka from Dhammissara MV Nattandiya in the 800 metres, and Shashintha Silva from St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana, in the 400 metres, are also athletes to watch in this category. 

In the Under-18 girls’ category, South Asian Junior Athletics Championship medallists Dillki Nehara from Sri Sumangala Girls School, Panadura, in the triple jump, and Tharushi Abisheka from Wickramabahu National School, Gampola, are expected to shine. 

The Under-20 category will feature top athletes who excelled at the recent South Asian Junior Athletics Championship in India and the World Junior Championship in Lima, Peru. Among the key contenders are Lyceum’s new recruit Dulanjana Pradeepani in the girls’ 1500 metres, Ayomal Akalanka in the 400m hurdles, De Mazenod, Kandana sprinter Kaushan Thamel in the 200m, and Leeds International, Matara sprinter Induwara Weeraratne. 

However, South Asia’s fastest junior athlete, Merone Wijesinghe, may only participate in relay events for Ananda College as he recovers from illness, according to his coach Badra Gunawardene. Similarly, national junior long jump record holder Madushani Herath from Nannapurawa MV Bibila is also unlikely to compete in this championship. 

ThePapare is bringing LIVE coverage over the span of four days on Dialog Television, the Dialog ViU app, and ThePapare.com, starting from 7:00am onwards.