National Pentathlon Swimming C'ships on May 15 and 16

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 15 and 16 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool. The meet will commence at 8.30 a.m. 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 Kiran Atapattu, Secretary, Interim Committee SL ASU.

Both boys and girls swimming champions Trinity College and Mahamaya College, Kandy are expected to go for repeat performances.

Swimmers from Ananda, St. Joseph's College, Royal, S. Thomas' and AIS who fared well at the Short Course Nationals are expected to fare well in the boys events and offer stiff opposition to Trinity swimmers.

Musaeus College, Hillwood College, Kandy, Ladies College and AIS swimmers together with Bishop's College and Visakha Vidyalaya will battle it out for 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 four strokes and 200 metres in individual medley.

Awarding of points 1st place (10 points), second (7), third (6), fourth (5), fifth (4), sixth (3), seventh (2), eighth (1) for the overall championships. Last year Trinity College and Mahamaya College emerged overall boy's and girls champions respectively.

Last year's special feature was Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College winning the Pentathlon Championships for the eight year since the age of 8 years under-10 (twice), under-12 (2), under-14 (2), under-16 (1) and under-19 (1).

He is expected to win the Pentathlon for the ninth consecutive year swimming in the under-19 age category.

Heshan is in top form and has already qualified to swim at the Asian Youth Games to be held next month in Singapore. He reached the qualifying times set by SLASU in all five events he swam at the selection trial held last month.

The 2008 Pentathlon Champions:

Boys: Under-10 - Dinesh Sanjula Jayakody (Maris Stella College), under 12 - S. Auwardt (Trinity College), under 14 - Ali Isphani (AIS), under-16 - Uvindu Himesh Perera (Royal Institute), under-19 - Heshan Unamboowe (Trinity College), Open - Shanon Lee (St. Joseph's College).

Girls: Under 10 - Kimiko Raheem (Otter AC), under-12 - Sevandee Perera (Visakha Vidyalaya), under-14 - Machiko Raheem (Otter AC), under-16 - Gihara Amerasinghe, under-19 - Chaturi Weragama (Girls High School, Kandy), Open - Dhanushika Jayawardena (Ladies College).