Kotelawala NS, Rathnayaka MMV dominate Schools Athletic Meet

By Susil Premalal

Sir John Kotelawala National School (NS), Kurunegala, and A. Rathnayaka MMV, Walala, took the lead in the overall championship of the 2022 All-Island School Games Athletic Championships, which continued at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Kotelawala NS were in front in the Boys’ overall championship with a total of 49 points, while Rathnayaka MMV dominated the Girls’ overall championship, having already collected a total of 67 points.

The meet, conducted by the Ministry of Education, has been revived after a lapse of two years, but the authorities have got away with the tradition of awarding medals to the winners and the runners-up.

Meanwhile, the Western Province team is well set to retain the overall title for another year, having maintained their dominance at this meet since its inception in 1984.

 In addition, a total of 12 new records have been established in the Boys’ (7) and Girls’ (5) championships at the end of the third day’s meet, which will conclude on Tuesday.

The best individual performance came from Deneth Weeraratna of Leeds International School, Matara, where he set two records in the boys’ U-18 100m (10.69s) and the Boys’ U-18 200m (21.73s) respectively.

Following are the new records:

Boys: Thushan Kumaranayaka (Kanumuldeniya NS) U-14 100m - 11.85s, Deneth Weeraratna (Leeds International, Matara) U-18 100m - 10.69s and 200m 21.73s, Jayavi Rathhida (Royal, Pandura) U-18 shot putt - 16.94m, Isuru Kaushalya (Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama) U-20 200m - 21.47s, Nadun Bandara (Royal, Colombo) 110m hurdles - 13.82s, Uvindu Wijesingha (Rahula, Matara) U-20 shot putt - 15.43m

Girls: Eshani Shehara (Dickwella MMV) U-18 long jump - 5.32m, Umaya Rathnayaka (Lyceum, Wattala) U-16 - 100m - 12.64s, Dilshi Karunarathna (A. Rathnayaka MMV) U-20 400m - 54.22s, Ovini Chandrasekara (Bishop’s) U-20 shot putt 12.72m.