The first day of the Inter International-school Athletic Championships was worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
On March 1, 2013 at 9.00AM, the youngest athletes kick started ISACs 2013 participating in Under 09 girls’ high jump. This event signaled an auspicious start with a meet record of 0.99m set by Anjalika Madhushani of Lyceum International School Wattala. Parallel to this was the Under 11 boy’s long jump taking place producing a best prefromance of 1.24m by Themiya Jayasekara. Without letting down the heightened state of the meet, contestants rallied round for strength based events: Shot Putt, Discus Throw and Javelin Throw. Among the winning performances an outstanding record was produced by Shilpa Frenado contesting for Under 17 girls’ discus throw marking an impressive distance of 33.34.
What really spiced up the day were the running events ranging from 40m (for the Under 09 age category only) to 200m. The audience came to life as the participants shot like bullets to secure their victory. As always the parents were taking more interest in these events than in any other; some of them literally were running along with their children screaming and cajoling them to bring out their best. Yet again the most notable performance was from Lyceum International school Wattala for Under 13 girls’ 200m by Dilini Gomes.
Lyceum wattala, winners of ISACS 2012, proved to be a strong side from the start itself. By the noon they were leading the overall competition by 86 points leaving Gateway Colombo at the second place with 73.5 points and Lyceum International School Nugegoda at the third place with 67 points. Although the positions of the three schools remained unchanged at the end of the first day Gateway School Colombo closed up on Lyceum Wattala from a 12.5 points gap to a minute 4 points gap. As the two days roll on, we sure can expect some tables to turn, causing an interesting twist to the meet.
Reaching such milestones in the very beginning stages of the event proves the competitiveness of the event about to unfold. The opening ceremony put together by the Gateway College was a spectacle and a hoot, in the best sense of both words. Where Inter Internationals 2012 was forward-looking and forcefully impressive, Gateway’s edition looked up to the future with portrayals of talents by their own students. As the traditional ceremonial procedures took place was a dance mixed performance by students dressed in white. It was suitably authentic and impressive if you were to witness it ‘live’ alongside thunderous percussion of the College Band. All in all Gateway College upped the ante for ISACs 2013 raising hopes for a spectacular closing on the 3rd of March 2013.
