95th National Athletic Championship day 3; New National Records established

The 95^th National Athletic Championship organized by the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL)which spanned over 3 days concluded today (02^nd September) at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapakshe Stadium.

16 finals were worked off on the third and final day of the championship, which closed with the presentation of awards for the overall winners of the 15 challenge trophies that were on offer for the competitors.

Sri Lankan High jump sensation Manjula Kumara who recorded a height of 2.21m in the Men’s High jump was the big winner as he won the N. Vyravanathan Memorial Challenge Cup awarded to the best overall performance by an individual athlete at the meet for yet another year. He was also adjudged the Best performer in the Men’s category and clinched the Wilton Bartleet Challenge Trophy as well.

Upamali Rathnakumari of Sri Lanka Army who clocked 53.63secs in the Women’s 400 meters and was adjudged the best individual performer in the women’s events and was awarded the the Colombo Canteen Committee Challenge Cup.

Three New Sri Lanka records were established during the championship in the Heptathlon, Decathlon and the Women’s Pole Vault while 8 new meet records were set during the three day event with one meet record being equaled.

On the third and final day, two new meet records were established in the Women’s Hammer throw and the Women’s Triple Jump while a meet record was equaled in the Men’s Pole vault.

Ayesha Maduwanthi who holds the National record for Hammer throw established a new meet record at the event with a performance of 47.95m while M Amarasinghe who came in second also bettered the previous meet record recording 46.56m.

National record holder VIdusha Lakshani who has ushered a new era to the women’s triple jump event managed to renew the meet record she held since 2015 with a performance of 13.4m.

Ishara Sandaruwan National record holder in the Pole vault equaled his previous meet record with a leap of 5.00m. After clearing 5.00m Sandaruwan attempted clearing 5.12m next in order to go past the national record mark but failed as he kept crashing on the cross bar. Sandaruwan however was a victim of long hours in the hot sun as he had to wait till a plethora of contestants, who started off with the initial mark of 4.00m, finished their jumps. It was past noon when Sandaruwan took his first jump, having reported to the call room at 08.30 in the morning.

In the Men’s Long Jump Dhanushka Liyanapathirana  leapt an impressive distance of 7.97m but was not considered for any records as the wind gauge showed and advantage of +3.4.

95th National Athletics Championships -2017

1.THE DUNCAN WHITE CHALLENGE CUP – awarded to the best male athlete in hurdling events
ALAL Rathnasena SL Air Force 400 m Hurdles 51.05 Sec

2. THE C.C. DISSANAYAKE CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to the best male athlete in throwing events.
DS Ranasinghe SL Army Javelin Throw 76.92 m

3. THE N.M. VASAGAM CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best male athlete in jumping events.
WP Manjula Kumara SL Airforce 2.21 m

4. HORLICKS CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to the best male athlete in sprints
HM Dilip Ruwan SL Army 400 m 46.66 Sec

5. ANTHONY ABEYSINGHE CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to the best athlete in High Jump events.
WP Manjula Kumara SL Air Force 2.21 m

6. CHANDI KANNANGARA MEMORIAL TROPHY – awarded to the best female athlete in sprints.
EWU Rathmakumari SL Army 400 m 53.63 Sec

7. GRAYLINE GROUP CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best female athlete in middle distance races.
GTA Abeyrathna SL Navy 800 m 2:05.69 Sec

8. HUXLEY’S WINTOGENO CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best female athlete in long distance races
UKN Rathnayaka SL Army 3000 m Steeple Chase 10:25.25 Sec

9. GLUCOLIN CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best female athlete in hurdles events
EK Madushani SL Army 400 m Hurdles 1:00.89 Sec

10. HNB CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best female athlete in jumping events
HD Vidusha Lakshani SL Army 13.43 m NMR

11. SALONPAS CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best female athlete in throwing events
WKT Fernando SL Air Force Shot Put 14.52 m

12. GOVERNOR GENERALS CUP – awarded to best male athlete in middle and long distance events
HDMIG Idunil Madushan Herath SL Army 800 m 1:48.83 Sec

13. THE COLOMBO CANTEEN COMMITTEE CHALLENGE CUP – awarded to best female athlete at the meet
EWU Rathmakumari SL Army 400 m 53.63 Sec

14. THE WILTON BARTLEET CHALLENGE TROPHY – awarded to best male athlete at the meet
WP Manjula Kumara SL Air Force 2.21 m

15. N. VYRAVANATHAN MEMORIAL CHALLENGE CUP – awarded to the Athlete whose performance in any individual event is considered the best at the meet (Men & Women)
WP Manjula Kumara SL Air Force 2.21 m