The schools’ athletic fest – 85th edition of the Sir John Tarbet Athletic Championship commenced yesterday at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakse International Stadium – With over 3000 athletes participating for the competition four new meet records were established on day one itself.
Championship commenced with the 5000m Under 20 boys event which is also the first track event of the showdown. Sahan Chathuranga of Dickwella Central College won the event when he clocked a time of 15.33.74 minutes. A.M.T. Hemantha of Rathnayake Central College followed him right after to earn the second place when he clocked 15.35.22 minutes and M.M.D.P Jayasinghe of Vidyaratha College – Kandy was placed third.
As the lads concluded the track event, next up was the field event the shot-putt for under 20 girls. F.S. Rishard of Kaluthara Balika Vidyalaya was placed first in the event with a distance of 9.70m while Dilshani Fernando of Ave Maria Convent was placed second with a distance of 9.01m. W.S.C. Weerasinghe of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya calimed the third position with a distance of 8.98m.
The first meet record for the girls was from Negombo. H.D Vidusha Lakshani coming from Newstead Girls School covered a distance of 13.05m in her under 20 girl’s triple jump event. P.D. Banadarawithana of Pannipitiya Central College was placed second in the event with a distance of 11.86m while Charuka Sandamini of Kiwulkele Maha Vidyalaya was placed third with a distance of 10.94m.
Shehan Wisamperuma of Lyceum International School Wattala covered a distance of 7.09m in his under 18 long jump event as he established a new meet record as well. The competition for the second and third places were a bit tight as it differed only by 0.4m – S.D.Domeenius of Seventh Day Adventist school won the second place of the event with distance of 6.85m while Uditha Chandrasena of Maristella College, Negombo claimed the third position with a distance of 6.81m.
While those two events were the highlights for the day, the under 20 girl`s high jump event was another nail biting events where it was hard to give a prediction. Ranella Cooray of Ladies College, Colombo recorded a height of 1.58m to win the first place but Muditha Madushani of Kuliyapitiya Central too recorded the same height leaving them to share the position of the event. Poornima Guneratene – the blooming bud of Sri Lankan Athletics who will also be touring to China in a couple of weeks for Schools Asian Championships won the under 18 girls high jump event with a height of 1.65m.
Only three track events were held yesterday and the rest were all field events. Organizers speaking to ThePapare.com said that they have got into a good start for this year’s tournaments and they will make sure the continuity prevails for all three days. The tournament will end on the 19th of June 2015.
