Ambepitiya, Wijesinghe best athletes

Chinthana Wasala

Shehan Ambepitiya (Gateway International School, Rajagiriya) who won the Boys u-19 100m and 200m setting up two new meet records, was named as the Most Outstanding Athlete (boys) at the 2008 All Island National School Games which came to an end at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Ambepitiya who proved that he is one of the best future hopefuls for Sri Lankan Athletics when he finished the 100m in 10.58 seconds to set his second record in this year’s meet to overcome the previous record of 10.77 seconds held by Viraj Charitha Vithana (D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo 07) in 2006. Earlier, he erased the old record for the Boys U-19 200m with a time of 21.60 seconds to erase B.R. Ashan Hasaranga’s record. Hasaranga from Richmond College, Galle, had clocked a time of 21.80 seconds in 2006.

His performances in this meet will help him to get into good form before the Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune, India from 12-14 this month.

D.A.H. Wijesinghe from St. Joseph’s College, Kegalle broke the u-19 Girls 100m hurdles record with a time of 14.66 seconds was adjudged as the Most Outstanding Girls Athlete.

She overcame the previous record of 15.0 seconds held by B.G.L. Madhubanthi of Sumana Balika MV, Ratnapura clocking 14.99secs. in the semi-final and in the final, she clocked 14.66secs. to update her own record.

As usual, Western Province emerged Champions this year too, collecting 881 points, a massive lead of the second placed Central Province’s 456. Sabaragamuwa Province was placed third with 334 points.

There were two more records produced on the final day. One was established in the Girls u-15 100m event when A. Maralanda from Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy finished clocking 12.67 seconds to lower her own record which stood at 12.89 seconds which was set on the previous day in the semi-finals.

St. Benedict’s College Kotahena won the Boys u-17 4X400m relay in 3 minutes 29.49 seconds to set the final record of this year’s meet.

They were 0.41 seconds better than the previous record holders, Dudley Senanayake MMV, Tholangamuwa, (3minutes 29.90seconds). It was the 20th new meet record produced during the meet this year which saw over five thousand athletes from 1004 schools from all parts of the island including 473 athletes from Northern Province and 548 athletes from the Eastern Province competing.

Championship Awards:

Under-15 Boys: Royal Institute International School, Colombo

Girls: St. Joseph’s Girls College, Kegalle

Under-17 Boys: A. Ratnayaka MMV, Menikhinna

Girls: Sumana Balika MV, Ratnapura

Under-19 Boys: A. Ratnayaka MMV, Menikhinna

Girls: A. Ratnayaka MMV, Menikhinna

Under-21 Boys: St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena

Girls: Ambagamuwa MV, Udabulatgama

Mini marathon Boys: M.P.D. Asela Sandaruwan, Nakkawatte MMV, Nakkawatte

Girls: D. Ajantha Sanjeewani, J.M. Kumaradasa MV, Wellawaya

Field Events (Jumps) Champion: L.P. Sudheera Nilanga, Sri Dharmaloka MMV, Kelaniya

Field Events (Throws) Champion: G.A. Sachin Madhuranga, Ananda College, Colombo 10

Relay Boys: Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa

Girls: St. Joseph’s Girls College, Kegalle

Overall Boys Champions: A. Ratnayake MMV, Menikhinna

Girls: A. Ratnayake MMV, Menikhinna