The determination on the face of P. A. D. Ruwansa Weerakkodi of Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya who established 3 meet records at the Sir John Tarbet Junior National Championships which concluded last Friday (10.11.2017) at the Mahinda Rajapakse stadium in Diaygama, was visible as an excited young Ruwansa spoke with ThePapare.com after her massive feat.
She set a new meet record in the most significant 100m clocking a timing of 13.00 sec beating the previous timing of 13.20 secs. She next took on the 200m where yet again she broke barriers finishing in 26.7 sec breaking the previous record of 28.8 secs in addition to also causing in uproar in the Long Jump bettering the record previously set in 1994 at 4.83m with a distance of 4.88m.
A young athlete’s dream
“My dream is to get into the junior national pool in two years.” says Ruwansa.
Starting her athletic career from a very young age, Ruwansa always had the dream to reach the top most level in the field of athletics. Engaging in small scale running events, she acquired her very first gold medal at the age of 8.
The change-maker for Janadipathi Balika
With the arrival of Coach Mr. Dilan Mendis early last year, athletics was rejuvenated in Janadipathi Balika Vidyalaya. Currently Mr. Mendis is working as the PTI of Holy Cross College, after 21 long years of service in St. Joseph’s Girls School – Nugegoda. In 2009 he was recognized as the All Island Best Coach.
This athletic season, the outstanding team of Janadipathi Balika Vidyalaya conquered 3 National Level Championships;
- The Under 14 national relay champions at the Relay Carnival Championship 2017 held in Jaffna
- Champions at the All Island Schools National athletic meet 2017
- Overall Champions at the Sir John Tarbet Junior champions 2017.
The timeless effort from the coach encouraged Ruwansa to engage in daily practices 5 days a week. “Even during training it is Ruwansa who strives through her determination and completes the given targets and ask for more when she feels like it. “detailed her coach, accenting further the drive and determination we witnessed in the young athlete.
With not more than 2500 students in the entire school, he proudly states that all the athletes born from the school into the National athletic arena are in-house students who have studied in the school from day one. Kavingi Edirisinghe who secured the gold in the All Island Schools National athletic meet is also a proud product of Mr. Dilan.
Coach Mr. Dilan Mendis confidently states that “She will be the all island best athlete next year in the under 13 age group”.
“It was the support by everyone around me”
Ruwansa is an all-rounder student with her ability not confined just to her athletics. She is as persevering with her academics, always holding the position among the top 10 of the class, she was also a member of the Junior prefects’ guild 2014/15. Her sports career was established from her Alma – mater emerging the age group champion of the school continuously from 2014.
“The support given by the principal Ms. Nayana Lakshika Perera and the Athletic -incharge of Janadipathi Balika Ms. Thanuja Rathnayake is priceless.” says Ruwansa. The backbone of her success solely depends on her parents, recognizing her passion enriching her in-born talent with a lot of support and encouragement.
The spiritual support given by Rev Athkandure Sumanasara Thero from Sri Shailarama temple was remembered by Ruwansa’s father who also spoke with us briefly on her achievements. Her friends and family in the athletic team and school has helped her motivation to grow higher before and after victory run.
Where she wants to go
“My ambition is to bring glory to Sri Lanka in the Schools’ Athletic level” promises Ruwansa Weerakodi who is also ambitious to represent Sri Lanka in the Olympic Games someday.
ThePapare.com certainly wishes strength to her ambitions and will follow her journey as she continues to break records.
