Killer Whale Aquatics and Sirimavo clinch Senior Swimming Nationals

Killer Whale Aquatics Club retained their Senior Men’s National Swimming title with a landslide win while Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya dethroned Visakha Vidyalaya to take home the Women’s title at the conclusion of the 2016 Swimming Nationals that were worked off at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex over the past few days.

Reigning champions Killer Whale Aquatics collected a massive tally of 423 points in the Men’s division while coming in second, Sri Lanka Navy amassed only 298.5. In similar fashion, it was Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya who collected 230 staying 89 points ahead of Mahamaya College Kandy who came in second with 141 points.

Read: National and Junior National Aquatics Championship: Day 1

The National and Junior National Aquatic Championships 2016 started off on 26th November.

It was Killer Whale and Sirimavo in the driving seat from the start of the first day, dominating the nationals in the senior division leading the points tally.

In the absence of Matthew Abeysinghe who was sidelined due to an injury, it was his youngest sibling Kyle Abeysinghe who stepped into the shoes of the national champion and was adjudged the Best Swimmer in the Senior Men’s category.

Also read: Killer Whale continue to dominate swimming nationals

Winning eight gold medals and three silver medals in both relay and individual events combined, Kyle Abeysinghe opened a new chapter in the Sri Lankan swimming books as the 16-year-old was undoubtedly the best swimmer in the four-day meet. His eight golds included five coming from the individual events of 200m Individual Medley, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle and in the 50m Freestyle.

Photos: Sri Lanka Swimming Nationals – Final Day 2016

Photos of the Sri Lanka Swimming Nationals – Final Day 2016

Ishani Senanayake representing Killer Whale was adjudged the best swimmer in the Women’s category winning gold in all five events she swam in. Ishani got her honours in the 400m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle and the 800m Freestyle.

The highlight of the day, however, was the emergence of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya as the new Senior Nationals Women’s titleholders for the first time in history. The Sirimavo girls reigned in the relays and secured important finishes to accumulate a total of 240 points overall to win the Women’s title.

Sixteen-year-old Vinoli Kaluarachchi was one of the key architects in their success story winning two gold medals and two silver medals in addition to the five gold medals she won in the relays.

Sirimavo won gold in the 400m Medley relay, 800m Freestyle relay, 200m Freestyle relay, 400m Freestyle relay and the 200m Medley relay to mark their dominance in the women’s segment.

Visakha and St. Joseph’s Junior Nationals winners

Visakha Vidyalaya and St. Joseph’s College Colombo took the silverware in the Junior Nationals category. Visakha topped the girls’ table with 160 points while in second and third were Mahamaya Girls College and Sirimavo Bandaranaike respectively.

In the Boys’ section, it was St. Joseph’s College winning the title accumulating 158 points while Ananda College closed in on St. Joseph’s at second place with 150.5 points.

Shenali Weerawansa of Ave Maria Convent was adjudged the Best Swimmer in the Girls’ category for her three gold medals and two silver medals that she won in the under 15 category.

Shevinda De Silva from St. Joseph’s College was the Best Swimmer in the Boys’ category for his efforts in winning the Gold in the 50m Backstroke and silver medals in the 200m Individual Medley & 100m Freestyle.

Standings Senior Nationals Men

Standings Senior Nationals Women

Standings Junior Nationals Boys

Standings Junior Nationals Girls