National Pentathlon C'ships begins today

Leslie Fernando

All leading swimmers will participate at the two day National Pentathlon Swimming Championships, conducted by the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) to be held on May 16 and 17 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool. The meet will commence at 8.30 a.m. on each day.

The meet is intended for swimmers who have reached a high standard and proficient in all four strokes.

The swimmers must participate in all four strokes in addition to the individual medley event.

Places are allotted according to the times returned and the swimmers obtaining the timings will be adjudged the winner said Nethru Nanayakkara, Media Coordinator, SLASU.

Both boys and girls swimming champions St. Joseph's College and Mahamaya College Kandy are expected to go for repeat performances. Swimmers from St. Joseph's College and Mahamaya College who emerged overall champions at the recently concluded National Short Course Swimming Championships held at Hillwood College Kandy pool are fancied to come on top at this meet. But last years champions Trinity College, Ananda, S. Thomas, Royal, AIS are bound offer stiff opposition to the Josephians.

In the boys events Mahamaya College holders are fancied to retain the title on their swimmers current good form. Ladies College, Musaeus, Hillwood College, Kandy, Asian International School together with RAC and Otter AC will battle it out for minor honours. The best in the boys and girls in the under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, under-19 as well as open will be selected and they will be awarded special trophies.

All age groups will comprise 100 metres for the four strokes and 200 metres individual medley.

Awarding of points 1st place (10 points), second (7), third (6), fourth (5) fifth (4), sixth (3), Seventh (2) and Eighty (1) for the overall championships.

Last year Trinity College and Mahamaya College emerged overall boys and girls champions respectively.

The 2007 Pentathlon Champions: Boys: Under-10-Shortran Rajapakse (AIS),

Under-12 - M. Hulangamuwa (Trinity)

Under-14-Ali Isphani (AIS),

Under -16-Ben Thomas (British School Colombo),

Under-19-Ashane Fernando (St. Joseph's College), Open-C.L.B. Wijeratne (Trinity).

Girls:

Under-10- Rukshali Hapugoda (Mahamaya College),

Under-12- Machiko Raheem (Otter AC),

Under-14 Gihara Amarasinghe (Southland BV),

Under-16-Miniruwani Samarakoon (Gateway International School, Kandy),

Under-19- Chaturi Weragama (Girls High School Kandy), Open-Dumini de Silva (NGS).