Western Province athletes dominate on the first day

Chinthana Wasala

ATHLETICS: Athletes from Western Province overcame the outstation competitors on the first day of the John Tarbat Schools Junior Athletics Championships which began at the Sir Albert F. Peiries Stadium, Wennappuwa on Wednesday.

More than 3,600 Junior athletes from all over the country took part in the athletics championship under four age groups - under 15, 14, 13 and 12.

Milroy Fernando, Minister of Plantation Industries was the chief guest on the opening day.

The track and field events will be followed by the closing ceremony and the awards ceremony.

Praveen Samarasinghe of St. Joseph's College, Colombo won the boys' under-15 shot putt event and W. A. D. Ruslan of Royal College, Polonnaruwa won the under-14 title.

The winner of the under 14 high jump (boys') was Ricardo Fernando of Gateway International, Colombo and Yasith Mendis of Royal College Colombo was the winner of the under 12 event.

S. G. Kern of Royal College, Colombo, won the long jump for under 12 boys' and W. Manesha Thanuja Kumari of Holy Family Convent Kalutara won the under-15 girls' title.

Results:

Under-15 - shot-putt (boys): 1. Praveen Samarasinghe (St. Joseph's College, Colombo), 2. P. H. P. Tharanga de Silva (St. Joseph's College, Anuradhapura), 3. Hakeem Hussain (St. Joseph's College, Colombo).

Under-14 - high jump (boys): 1. Ricardo Fernando (Gateway International, Colombo), 2. Udaya Sampath Samarasinghe (Prince of Wales, Moratuwa), 3. G. A. Eranga Jayatissa (D. S. Senanayake College).

Under-14 - shott putt (boys): 1. W. A. D. Ruslan (Royal College, Polonnaruwa), 2. W. G. Tharindu Madushanka (Medhananda Vidyalaya, Puttalam), 3. Jude Gunasena (St. Peter's College, Colombo).

Under-12 - long jump (boys): 1. S. G. Kern (Royal College, Colombo), 2. K. Asanka Chanuka (Dhammissara MV, Nattandiya), 3. Krishmal Hettiarachchi (St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa).

Under-12 - high jump (boys): 1. Yasith Mendis (Royal College, Colombo), 2. G. G. S. H. Dahanayaka (Dheerananda MV, Pilimathalawa), 3. I. K. Tennakoon (Nalanda College, Colombo).

Under-15 long jump (girls): 1. W. N. T. Kumari (Holy Family Convent - Kalutara), 2. H. D. M. Indumani (Pinnawala National School, Rambukkana), 3. S. M. S. Upeshika Sethunga (Sandhalankawa MMV).

Under-15 - high jump (girls): 1. H. M. A. T. Siriwardane (Galenbindunuwewa MMV), 2. R. M. M. Samaradivakara (Christ King National School, Matale), 3. H. L. D. I. Nikekshila (Wijitha MMV, Dikwella).

Under-15 - javelin throw (girls): 1. D. A. Thisaru Madena (Ladies College, Colombo), 2. A. K. A. D. Madushika (Yasodhara Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha), 3. M. Rosi Rangika (Sandalankawa MMV).

Under-14 - long jump (girls): 1. G. H. N. Sachini Wickremathilaka (Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa), 2. Harini Eranga Kannangara (Lyceum International School, Wattala), 3. H. M. C. S. Herath (Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalya, Kurunegala).