Three new records at Swimming Nationals

Leslie FERNANDO

Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College, Tuan Nabees Dole of St. Benedict’s College and Machiko Raheem of Otter AC established new records at the National and Junior National Swimming Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool yesterday.

Unamboowe who was selected as the best men’s swimmer set a new Sri Lankan record in the 50 metres Back Stroke clocking 28.17secs. He also won four more events 1500m free-style, 200m individual medley, 100m free-style and 100m back-strokes.

Dole accounted for the second new mark in the Under-14 Boys 50 metres Breaststroke with a time of 35:81secs. Meanwhile, Machiko, sister of Mayumi Raheem broke the 50 metres free-style Girls Under-14 timing 30.27secs.

Miniruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International School, Kandy who won all five events 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly, 400m individual medley and 200m individual medley was selected as the Best Women’s Swimmer.

Mineka Karunaratne of Asian International School won her third event in the Women’s 50 metre Breast Stroke. She also won both 100m and 200m Breast Stroke events.

MAS SC retains the title

Defending champions MAS Sports Club retained the Men’s Waterpolo title and carried away the David Vast Challenge Trophy defeating Royal College in a close final by eight goals to seven.

MAS SC took a comfortable lead 4/0 in the first quarter and they increased the lead to 3/2 in the second (7-4) Royal fought back bravely to win the third (2-0) and fourth (3-1). But MAS SC edged out the Royalists to clinch the issue (8-7).

The goal getters for MAS SC were Dhanushka Seram (2), Lasitha Perera (2) Ranga Warnapura (2), Dakshitha Thawanesam and Rajitha Warnapura one each. For Royal the scorers were Bilal Hassan (2), Zaman Al Yakoob (2), Yohan Samarajeewa (1) and Shehan Dassanayake.

RCUAC - Diving champions

Royal College Union Aquatic Club divers showed supremacy to win the Men’s Overall title with 30 points. They were awarded the Hossan Allan Smith Challenge Trophy.

Royal College Union Aquatic Club finished second with 26 points in the Women’s Diving Visakha Vidyalaya with 30 points won the overall championship. Chanaka Wickremesinghe of RCUAC was selected as the Best Men’s Diver while Lukshani Ratnayake of Visakha Vidyalaya was the Best Women’s Diver.

Royal won the Junior Boys title in diving with 44 points. RCUAC were junior girls champions with 20 points.

Musaeus College on top

Musaeus College with 17 points won the synchronised Swimming Overall title in the Senior Nationals.

Dehera Katipearachchi of Musaeus College clearly led and won the Solo Competition with 68.834 points.

Ladies College with 10 points became Junior National Champions in Synchronised Swimming.