Western Province Wins Championship as All Island Schools Athletics Championship Concludes!

The 2024 All Island Schools Athletics Championship successfully concluded yesterday (22nd of October), spanning over 5 days of intense competition. Ultimately, it was the Western Province that claimed the overall championship title.

In an extremely impressive feat, a total of 31 new records were set during this competition. Also, 13 of those records were broken during the course of yesterday alone.

Firstly, in the Boys’ 400m Hurdles Under-20 category, Ayomal Akalanka from Ambagamuwa College set a new Under-20 record, finishing the race in 51.16 seconds.

In other notable performances, Dulneth Nethmika from Maris Stella College, Negombo, clocked 7.39 seconds in the Boys’ Under-14 60m event.

Consequently, P.S. Edirisinghe from Gateway College, Colombo, set a quick time of 38.53 seconds in the Boys’ Under-18 300m Hurdles event.

Also, G.L.N.D. Liyanage from Weera Keppetipola National School finished the Boys’ Under-18 3000m race with an impressive new record of 9:11.69 minutes.

Additionally, A.T.D. Mendis from Lyceum College, Wattala, broke the Under-18 Boys’ High Jump record, clearing a height of 2.09m.

Further, in the Girls’ events, namely the Under-14 60m event, Manuthi Weakadapola from Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, set a new record with a time of 8.13 seconds.

Meanwhile, Tharushi Abhisheka from Wickramabahu College, Gampola, who had been excelling in her performances the previous days too, set her third record of the tournament, completing the Under-18 3000m race in 10:14.70 minutes.

Aside from the individual events, there were several records broken in the relays too, across both girls and boys. In the Boys’ events, Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa, set a new record with a time of 43.72 seconds in the Under-16 4x100m Relay. Trinity College, Kandy, set a new record in the Boys’ Under-18 4x400m Relay, completing it in 3:19.94 minutes. Ananda College, Colombo, broke the Under-20 Boys’ 4x400m Relay record with a time of 41.28 seconds.

Meanwhile, In the Girls’ relays, there were significant records broken too. Lyceum College, Gampaha, won the Girls’ Under-16 4x100m Relay with a new record of 49.94 seconds. Ambagamuwa College won the Girls’ Under-18 4x400m Relay with a time of 3:57.79 minutes, and Gateway College, Colombo, won the Girls’ Under-20 4x100m Relay with a time of 48.21 seconds.

The Winners across the different Age Categories are as stated below:

• Boys Under-14: Bhuvindu Hansana (Javelin Throw – Deniyaya Central College)
• Girls Under-14: Manuki Weakadapola (60m – Ave Maria Convent)
• Boys Under-16: Theja Bandara (Long Jump – John Kotelawala College, Kurunegala)
• Girls Under-16: P.R.A.D.N. Rajapakse (Long Jump – Lyceum College)
• Boys Under-18: Yuwan Malisha (110m Hurdles – Masanad College, Kandana)
• Girls Under-18: Tharushi Abhisheka (Long-Distance Running – Wickramabahu College, Gampola)
• Boys Under-20:Ayomal Akalanka (400m Hurdles – Ambagamuwa College)
• Girls Under-20: H.A.N.M. Herath (Long Jump – Nannapurawa Maha Vidyalaya)

The Relay Winners are as follows:

• Boys Relay: Maris Stella College, Negombo
• Girls Relay: Lyceum College, Wattala

Best Athletes of the Competition:

• Throwing Events: H.V. Jayasinghe (St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa)
• Sprint Events: Omel Shashintha (St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana)
• Hurdles: Yuwan Malisha (Masanad College, Kandana)
• Jumping Events: H.A.N.M. Herath (Nannapurawa Maha Vidyalaya)
• Best Female Athlete: H.A.N.M. Herath (Nannapurawa Maha Vidyalaya)
• Best Male Athlete: Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa College)

Furthermore, Maris Stella College, Negombo, won the Boys’ overall championship with a collection of 105 points, while Lyceum College, Wattala, claimed the Girls’ overall championship with an impressive 188 points.

Thus, the Western Province secured the overall championship with 1,273 points, followed by the Central Province with 440.5 points, and the Southern Province in third place with 376.5 points.

We wish all the young athletes good luck with their journey within this sport, as the many records serve as a testament to their talent and dedication. Their success at such a young age has been remarkable, and they deserve our utmost support to take their skills beyond a national level to reach their potential and make our country proud.

Stay tuned to ThePapare, Sri Lanka’s number one sports channel, for the latest in athletics news!