Upcoming long-distance runner Parami Wasanthi Marisstella of Kuliyapitiya Central College and Eranga Madushanka Nayanajith of President’s College Ambagasduwa won top honors at the All Island Schools 15 Km Road race in Girls’ & Boys’ categories respectively.
Organized by the Ministry of Education as part of the All Island School Games, the road race was held with the participation of over 2000 competitors in the 15Km road race, while a 5km race was also held alongside the 15km event for both Boys & Girls categories. The showpiece event was sponsored by the Nestamalt brand with the Minister of Education Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam gracing the occasion as the chief guest.
Parami who is currently ranked 2nd in the world in the youth category for the 3000m steeple chase and will be one of Sri Lanka’s leading medal hopes at the Youth Olympic Championship, which is scheduled to be held next month in Argentina, showcased why she was a class apart from the rest. She was the only athlete in the Girls category to cross the finish line under an hour, finishing the race with a time of 57mins & 58secs. Parami’s teammate from Kuliyapitiya Central College, Asmika Herath finished second, clocking 1hr 2.54secs while Dilrukshi Samarakoon of Welimada Central won third-place clocking 1Hr 3.05secs.
In the Boys’ Category Eranga Madushan finished the 15km clocking 48 mins and 45 seconds ahead of schoolmate Chaminda Nuwan Kumara, who secured the second-place clocking 49 mins and 31secs. Third place was won by Eranga Silva of Bandaranayake Vidyalaya, Payagala who finished the race clocking 50 minutes and 20 seconds.
In the Girls’ 5Km race Lakmini Dulanjali of Sri Dhamma Vidyalaya, Galle won first place followed by Githmee Sanjana of Bandaranayake MV and V Rishanthi Gawaravila Tamil MV Hatton. In the Boys 5km Kaveesha Induruwa of President’s College, Ambagasduwa won the first place while Sandeepa Wickramasinghe of Wekada Mv and Thilina Madushan also from Wekada MV finishing second and third respectively.
