Ratnayake Central athletes owned two out of the seven new meet records established at the second day of the athletics championship of the All Island Schools Games at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
An impressive long jump feat by Prince College, Ratnapura athlete Udaya Kumara and notable sprint performances by Himasha Eshan and Rumeshika Ratnayake in the 200 metres decorated the event.
Udaya Kumara’s feat of 7.38 metres in the Under-19 boys’ long jump was probably the best feat of the day in the boys’ category as he lowered a twelve-year-old record (7.37m by T.D. Thabrew – Devananda in 2001) which had only been equaled once by Nayana Prasad Dharmaratne in 2004.
In the girls’ category, St. Joseph’s Balika, Kegalle athlete Rumeshika Rathanayke’s performance of 25.57 seconds in the Under-19 200 metres stood out as she produced the best sprint performance in the girls’ category (in all age categories including Under-21).
Ratnayake Central’s Ishara Sandaruwan and Harshani Dharmaratne established new meet records in the Under-21 boys’ and Under-17 girls’ pole vault events respectively. While Sandaruwan cleared 4.50 metres to lower a record (4.20m by Channa Fernando of St. Sebastian’s Kandana in 2003) that had lasted for ten years, Dharmaratne cleared 3.11 metres.
Asian Youth Games medalist Anuruddha Vidusanka of St. Mary’s College, Kegalle and Taxila Central hurdler Lahiru Prasanjith established new records in the Under-17 and Under-21 400 metres hurdles respectively. Vidusanka bettered his own record with a feat of 54.45 seconds, while Prasanjith erased 13-year-old record of L.L.A Nayanananda with a time of 53.47 seconds.
Gateway International athlete Asiri Wijesekara returned a time of 23.34 seconds to establish a new record in the Under-15 boys’ 200 metres.
Of all sprint events, Kalutara Vidyalaya sprinter Himasha Eshan’s dash in the Under-19 200 metres stood out as he returned 21.70 seconds to win.
St. Bridget’s Convent athlete Amanthi Silva cleared 41.20 metres to establish a new record in the Under-19 girls’ discus throw.
Meanwhile, Ratnayake Central athletes made a clean sweep in the Under-19 girls’ 800 metres as Nayomi Jayasundara(2:17.93secs), Pramoda Abeysinghe and Mahesha Weerasinghe surged ahead in a bunch in the last 300 metres to grab the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively
