Three jumpers, long jumper Danushka Sandaruwan, triple jumpers Vidusha Lakshani and Chamal Kumarasiri, excelled on the final day in their respective events to claim the best athlete title of their age groups at the 27th National Youth Sports Festival concluded at Diyagama yesterday.
Sandaruwan (Gampaha District), hailing from Nalanda College and currently an undergraduate at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, leaped an impressive 7.78m in the men’s over 20, which stunned many leading long jumpers in the country, as he set a new meet record and sealed the over 20 best male athlete award. This is also a personal best by the 21 old athlete, who is warming up for the challenge at the SAG trials to be worked off in 3 weeks time.
Asian Youth Championship Silver medalist, Chamal Kumarasiri (Gampaha District), continued his record breaking streak as he jumped 15.67m in the boys under 20 triple jump to set a new meet record, and sealed the boys under 20 best athlete award.
The National record holder of the triple jump, Vidusha Lakshani (Gampaha District), who set the Sri Lankan record in the last edition of the Youth Sports Festival, couldn’t perform at the same impressive level of performance, yet her jump of 12.84m was more than enough for her to seal the girls under 20 best female athlete award.
Chandrika Rasnayake (Kurunegala District ) who won triple gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay, sealed her second consecutive women’s over 20 best athlete award for her record breaking time of 54.31 seconds in the 400m. All four best athletes were awarded motor cycles each.
Gampaha District won the overall championship while Kurunegala was runner up. Colombo District finished third.
A total of 13 new meet records were set during the three day championship, with four records on the last day, even though most of the competition was held in heavy rain.
Apart from the above mentioned two jumping records, Gampaha District men’s over 20 and under 20 4x400m relay teams set new meet records on the day.
In the other event of the day, Kurunegala District athlete Nishanthi Dilhani Fernando sealed her third gold medal with a win in the girls under 20 1500m, as she won the 400m and 800m earlier.
H.L. Minimuthu of Kegalle District was the fastest athlete of the championship as he clocked 10.96 seconds to win the men’s under 20 100m, while Ranmini Madushika of Gampaha District clocked 12.49 seconds to win the women’s over 20 100m and become the fastest woman of the championship.
