35 new meet records set up at Junior Nationals

A total of 35 new meet records were established during the 2005 Sri Lanka junior national athletic championships concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo yesterday.

It was a creditable performance by the teenage athletes who proved Sri Lanka has hidden rural talent to take its athletes to the future. Following the eight new records on the opening day (Friday), there were 27 more records on the last two days of the three-day meet.

The three-day meet, at which over 3,500 boys and girls from all over the island took aprt, was conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka.

Hurdler H.P.Y. Ajith and sprinter Thanuja Kumari, both from Sri Lanka Army Sports Club, were adjudged best athletes in boys and girls categories in the Under-23 age group.

The best performers in respective age groups were as follows: Under-12 Boys: A.M.M. Zithwan (Rahumaniya MV, Eravur) - 4.63m in long jump Under-12 Girls: L. Gunasinghe (Royal Institute) 100m in 14.42 seconds.

Under-14 Boys: Tharaka Perera (Maris Stella, Negombo) 1.70m in high jump Under-14 Girls: R.P. Fernando (St. Lawrence's) 100m in 13.16 seconds Under-16 Boys: A.D.M.D. Silva (Richmond, Galle) 200m in 23.18 seconds Under-16 Girls: J.A.N.S. Jayasinghe (St. Joseph's Balika, Kegalle) 200m in 25.97sec.

Under-18 Boys: B.S.G. Kannangara (Ananda) 14.93m in triple jump Under-18 Girls: S.S. Dunusinghe (Devi Balika) 200m in 26.02 seconds Under-20 Boys: M.H.N.P. Dharmaratne (Holy Cross, Kalutara) 7.14m in long jump Under-20 Girls: R.M.P. Subhashini (Senanayake MV, Madampe) 400m n 56.91 sec.

Under-23 Boys: H.P.Y. Ajith (SL Army) 400m hurdles in 53.29 seconds Under-23 Girls: Thanuja Kumari (SL Army) 400m in 57.89 seconds.

D.W.