Newstead Girls School, Negombo jumper Vidusha Lakshani, sprinter P.N. Awchithya of Verenketagoda MV, Ampara and Maris Stella College sprinters hogged limelight by establishing new records on day four of the Athletics Championship of the All Island Schools Games at the Sugathadas Stadium on Monday.
Despite failing to reach her personal best, Lakshani managed to better her own meet record by clearing a distance of 12.47 metres in the Under-19 girls triple jump. She comprehensively beat P.D. Bandarawatta of Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (second- 11.88m) and S.A. Danushki of Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa (third- 11.53m)who both failed to go beyond the 12 metres mark.
Maris Stella College sprinters established a new record when they returned a time of 3:29.01 seconds to finish the Under-17 boys 4×400 metres heats. Haritha Madusanka, Uditha Chandrasena, Gavesh Mayantha and Anton Dilruk made the record breaking team.
Today’s all age group relay finals (4x400m) are likely to be dominated by Maris Stella sprinters.
The Eastern Province athlete P.N. Awchithya who equaled the Under-15 boys’ 400 metres record on Saturday established a new record by finishing the Under-15 boys’ 400 metres in a time of 51.45 seconds with Maris Stella’s Abishek Alwis finishing closely behind him in a time of 51.54 seconds.
In the corresponding girls’ event Sandamali Pushpalatha, who established a new record in the heats was the favourite but Anudi Mihara of Gothami Balika, Colombo turned tables to win in a time of 59.25 seconds. The former record holder of the event Induranga Sathsarani finished second in a time of 59.99 seconds.
