Gihara sets up new age group record

Gihara Sachini Amarasiri of Southland College, established a new age group record in the under-14 girls 100 metre breast stroke on day one of the 3-day national and junior aquatic championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool yesterday.

Gihara swimming in lane four ‘clocked’ 1:22:65 secs to erase off a 22-year-old mark Deepika Chanmugam 1:24:61 secs in 1985. Nadira Jayasekera of Vishaka Vidyalaya finished second 1:27:16 secs and Harshanee Dissanayake of Hillwood College Kandy third 1:27:94 secs.

Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College swimming in the 1,500 metres men did well to win with a time of 17:32:44 secs. K. Hulangamuwa of Trinity second 18:39:87 secs and Dasun Perera of Royal third 18:46:33 secs. Heshan was competing in this event for the first time.

Imara Fahim of RAC won the womens 800 metres 10:23:39 secs. Tuan Nabeel Dole of St. Benedict’s College times 1:27:79 secs to win the under-14 boys 100 metres breast stroke.

Diluka Thibbotuwamunuwa of Ananda College was the winner in the men’s 100 metres breaststroke 1:12:05 secs.

Mineka Karunaratne of Asian International School won the women’s 100 metres breast stroke 1:18:29 secs.

Trinity College relay ‘Quartets’ achieved a double winning the boys u-14, 200 metres medley relay 2:17: 73 secs and the mens 200 metres medley relay - 1:58:37 secs. British School Colombo won the Girls under-14, 200 meters medley relay - 2:28:60 secs.

The meet will be continued today at 8.30 a.m.

National diver Chanka Wickremasinghe of Royal College Union Aquatic Club performed the best winning platform diving, collecting 317.10 points at the national diving championships. Ramzan M. Saad of Royal College finished second with 172.15 points while Dirshan Wijesinghe of Mahanama College third with 138.90 points. In the womens platform Lukshani Ratnayake of Vishaka Vidyalaya came on top with 144.95 points.

Waheed Uvais of Royal College won the junior boys one metre spring board diving with 134.35 points. Dilshan Walakanda also of Royal College secured second position with 106.45 points and yet another Royalist Sahan Peiris in third place with 93.80 points.

In the junior girls one metre spring board diving Yashoda de Silva took the top spot with 133 points followed with Nethmi Liyanage of Vishaka Vidyalaya second with 72 points and Sonali Samarakoon of Thaksila AC, Panadura third with 70.90 points.

Diving events will continue today from 9.30 a.m.