Visakha Vidyalaya and St. Joseph’s College took a slender lead at the conclusion of the 1st day of the All Island Schools Swimming Championship that was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex today (3rd).
A total of over 100 schools made their way to the Sugathadasa Pool for the highly anticipated All Island Schools Swimming Championship organised in line with the National School Games accredited under the Ministry of Education.
Junior swimming prodigy Ramudi Samarakoon set the tone for the championship once again winning the first gold medal on offer that was for the Girls Under 15 200 meter Individual Medley. Despite finishing first with a timing of 39.26 in the qualifiers of the Girls Under 15 Backstroke event, Ramudi finished second in the finals behind Shenali Perera of Lyceum International School Nugegoda.
Photos: All Island School Games – Swimming
In similar fashion, Manula Cooray of Ananda College topped the qualifier event in the Boys Under 15 Individual Medley and brought Ananda College the first gold medal.
Peterite swimmer Akalanka Peiris was the top performer in the Boys’ category winning both the individual events he participated. Peiris went on to win the Boys’ Under 17 Individual Medley and the Under 17 50 meter Backstroke event.
Champion swimmer of the All Island Age Group Competition, Dilanka Shehan of Nalanda College got the gold for the Boys’ Under 19 Individual Medley while Vinoli Siriwardena who was the best swimmer in the girls’ division of the Age Group meet got her first gold winning the Under 19 50 meter Butterfly event.
The excitement intensified during the relay events that took place towards the evening and they proved to be vital for the Visakhians who currently top the leaderboard ahead of Mahamaya College Kandy. The Visakhians took the Under 19 200m Medley relay and the Under 19 200m Medley relay while Mahamaya won only the Under 17 200m Medley.
St. Joseph’s, however, seemed untroubled by the emerging Anandians winning the Under 15 200m Medley relay and the Under 19 200m Medley. Lyceum International School Wattala took the Boys’ Under 17 200m Medley relay while coming in first place in the Under 17 event was Ananda College.
Visakha Vidyalaya currently leads the Girls’ table with a total of 37 points and in second place is Mahamaya Girls College with a total of 22. Harischandra College Negombo claims the third with Lyceum International School Nugegoda with equal points of 11.
In the Boys’ Division, it is St. Joseph’s College who hold on to the top spot with 28 points while Ananada College and St. Peter’s College share a joint second place with 21 points.
The Schools Championship will continue for the second day tomorrow (4th) at Sugathadasa.
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