Comeback star Himasha Eshan crowned himself as the fastest sprinter when he won the boys under-20 100m at the Sir John Tarbat senior Athletics Championship concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo recently.
Eshan won the event without any threats or opposition after he clocked 10.69 seconds in the heat which marked the record as he broke the previous record set by Shehan Ambepitiya in 2008.
He won the final in 10.71 seconds.
“I did not plan on running this race earlier but since it was announced as a trial for the SAF Junior my coach told me to run and I am happy with my performance “ said Eshan after the race.
Malik Fernando of St. Peter’s College finished second while Tharindu Karunarathne of St. Sylvester’s College Kandy finished third.
Supun Randeniya and Rumesha Ratnayake emerged best male and female athletes respectively where Maris Stella College Negombo and A.Ratnayake Central College were the overall boys and girls champion.
Walala boys were overall runner-up while St. Joseph’s Girls Kegalle were the runner up in their category.
Supun Randeniya from Ranabima Royal College, Peradeniya clocked a new meet record of 14.04 seconds at the boys under-20 110m hurdles to seal his best male athlete prize while Rumesha Ratnayake from St. Joseph’s Girls Kegalle clocked a new meet record of 12.26 seconds in the girls under-18 100m to seal the victory .
Ratnayake also set the 200m record on the second day to finish with two records in the championship.
The three-day championship established more than 20 new meet records where Rumesha Ratnayake, Vinura Lakmal and Harshan Chathuranga set two new meet records each.
Vinura Lakmal from Maris Stella College Negombo did three unusual events and two of those ended up in records. Lakmal jumped 7.15m in the long jump and clocked 48.79 seconds in the 400m to set the records in the boys’ under-18 categories. Lakmal was also adjudged the best long jumper of the meet for his 7.15m distance.
Harshan Chathuranga of St. Peter’s College set the 400m record with 48.79 seconds in a tape-finish with Lakmal. Chathuranga also set the under 18 boys 400m hurdles record on the second day.
Both Vinura Lakmal and Harshan Chathuranga were adjudged the best 400m runners at the meet. Thilina Karunaratne of Royal College won the best high jumper award for his record breaking 2.16m jump. He trains under national high jumping champion Manjula Kumara who incidentally is also his main rival for the national title in the event.
Lahiru Prasanjith won both the 400m and 400m hurdles for boys under-20 with the 400m hurdles being a record.
Bronze medalist at the Asian Youth Games Nirmali Madushika easily won the under 18 girls 400m.
Surprise of the day was Dilhani Fernando of Kuliyapitiya Central who lost the 1500m race when she finished third with two Walala runners. Fernando who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Youth Games in both disciplines and won the 800m bronze, entered the 1500m final as favorite but couldn’t live up to expectation.
Shivanthi Ratnayake won her second gold medal yesterday in her pet 400m event for girls’ under-20 with ease.
Sarangi Silva the young long jumper from Sri Sumangala Panadura jumped 5.73m in the girls under 18 long jump to set a new meet record and immediately walked to the 100m final as both events clashed.
Sarangi finished second in the 100m where she bettered a previous record of 100m.
Chanchala Dissanayake from High School Kandy also bettered the previous 100m meet record although she finished third in the event that was won by Rumesha Rathnayake.
This year the championship was also open to athletes who were not representing their schools as it was a selection trial but yet schools were given marks and places for athletes without a disadvantage where officials marked their performances separately.
