Heshan, Mineka, Miniruwani best performers

Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: Three national swimmers Heshan Unamboowe (Trinity College), Mineka Karunaratne (Asian International School) and Miniruwani Samarakoon (Gateway International School Kandy) stole the limelight establishing two records each and wining the respective events at the four day 34th annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium swimming pool yesterday.

Sri Lanka swimming captain Heshan who established a national record on Saturday broke yet another record in the 50 meters free style boys under-15 ‘clocking’ 25.13 secs. Altogether he won all three events with comfortable ease - 50 m butterfly stroke, 200m individual medley and 50m free style. He was selected as the best swimmer in his age group.

Mineka who established two new records in the girls under - 15 - 100m and 200m breast stroke went on to win the 50 metres breast stroke with a time of 36.07 secs. Her timing was a record but the organisers were compelled not to register as a record as this event was held for the second time.

Miniruwani who won the 50 metres butterfly stroke (a record not ratified by the school authorities due this event held for the second time) and establish a new record in the 200 metres individual medley, add yet another record yesterday in the 100m butterfly stroke girls under - 15 with a time of 1.10.61 secs.

Both Mineka and Miniruwani shared the best swimmer award. Their performances were very creditable as they also helped their respective schools to win several relays comfortably.

Hiruni de Soysa (Hillwood College, Kandy), Cherantha de Silva (Ananda) Udari Mendis (Gateway International School Kandy), and C.B. Wickremasinghe (Trinity College) accounted for the other four new records Hiruni broke the 50 metres free style Girls under-15 record timing 37.67 secs, Cherantha establish a new mark in the 50 metres free style Boys under - 17, 30.63 secs. Udari in the 50 metres free style Girls under-19 - 20.65 secs and Wickremasinghe in the 50 metres free style for Boys under-19 - 25.94 secs..

Royal College and Bishop’s College retained the overall Boys and Girls titles in the Diving Championships.

In the Boys, Royal collected 145 points, St. Joseph’s second with 72 points and Mahanama College third with 25 points. Bishop’s College with 75 points headed the Girls diving while Vishaka Vidyalaya with 74 point second and Anula Vidyalaya third with 52 points.