The 88th Ritzbury Sir John Tarbet Senior Athletic Championship which was held over three days at the Sugathadasa Stadium ended today crowning St. Peter’s College and Walala A Ratnayake College as the overall champions in the Boy’s and Girl’s categories respectively.
St. Peter’s who have emerged as a formidable force in school’s athletics having won the Relay Carnival earlier this year, amazed 206 points to dethrone last year’s winners Maristella College who finished second collecting 115 points in the Overall Boy’s championship. Royal College Colombo finished third overall on the back of few impressive performances from their Under 18 age group which aided them in collecting 107 points.
Walala A Ratnayake College who were the defending champions in the overall Girl’s category continued their dominance for yet another year winning the top spot with an overwhelming 204 points to their name. Gateway International School, Colombo was a distant second with 95 points while Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura was placed third with 81 points.
Two athletes who will be representing Sri Lanka at the Youth Olympic Games next month in Argentina were adjudged the Best Performers in the Boy’s and Girl’s categories raising hopes of a podium finish at the upcoming world competition.
Promising steeple chaser Parami Wasanthi Maristella of Kuliyapitiya Central College who is currently 4th in the World Junior Rankings in Under 18 Girls 2000m steeple chase was adjudged the best female athlete at the meet for her new meet record performance of 6:37.9min in the steeple chase which earned her 1045 IAAF points. She also created a new meet record in the Girl’s 3000m.
Royalist High jumper Seniru Amarasinghe was adjudged the best athlete of the meet for his performance of 2.10m in the Under 18 Boy’s High jump which also was a new meet record. With 1002 IAAF points to his name Seniru’s high jump performance also earned him the best High Jumper accolade at the meet. The lanky high jumping youngster is currently ranked 4th in the World Junior rankings and will be a crucial member of the Lankan contingent to the Youth Asian Games. Both Parami and Seniru were added to the National Athletic Super pool due to the potential they poses in exceling in their events.
7 new meet records were created today making the total tally 23 with 12 records coming from the Boy’s category and 11 coming from the Girls category.
Photo Album – Sir John Tarbet Senior Athletic Championship 2018 | Day 3
In the Boy’s U20 4X400m St. Benedict’s College ran a superb race to win Gold with a new meet record clocking 3:18.96min, St Peter’s College and Marisstella College also managed to better the previous record which paved way for an incredible competition. In the Under 16 Boy’s 400m Kavisha Nikila De Soyza of Leeds international, Panadura claimed the meet record with a time of 49.82secs while the second placed HRS Jayasundara of Sir John Kothalawala College wo was placed second also bettered the previous meet record.
Kavindi Sanjana of President’s College Nawala once again showcased pace and stature beyond her years as she managed to clinch the Under 16 Girl’s 4000m record in style running a superb time of 56.88secs. This is a terrific time by the youngster who is just 15 years of age and if managed properly will be an invaluable asset in the future. D M I Hasanthi of Walala A Rathnayake College threw the javelin to a new distance in the Girls Under 20 with her best performance measured at 45.05m
Young and upcoming sprinter Shellinda Jansen of Gateway College collected her second gold medal winning the Girl’s U18 200m final and managed to renew her own record by 0.02secs clocking 12.41 in the process. Junior South Asian represent Sarisha Gunasekara of Ladies College, Colombo established a new meet record in the Under 18 girls shot put with a throw of 12.63m.
