Senior Athletic C’ships from October 7-9
Bernard Perera
The 79th All Island Schools Senior Athletic Championships for the Sir
John Tarbat Trophy organised by the Schools Athletis Association is due
commence on October 7 and conclude on October 9 at the Sugathadasa
stadium. The event is sponsored by Nestle Lanka Limited the distributers
of ‘Milo’.
Teams from 320 schools from all parts of the country including North
and East are billed to compete at this meet. The total number of
participants this year will be 1460 boys and 950 girls fro three
different age categories under 16,18 and 20. These details were
disclosed to the media at the press briefing held on Thursday at the
Hotel Capri chaired by Anil Weerasinghe the Secretary of the SLSAA as
the president of the Association was indisposed.
Weerasinghe addressing the Media said that the results of this meet
will be considered as the trial to select athletes for the South Asian
Junior Athletic Championships to be held later this year in India.
The highlight at this years meet will be the participation of T. V.
Ratnapala an athlete from Dambana who made a good effort to be the
runner up at the Nestomalt Marathon held in Ampara recently. Weerasinghe
said this particular athlete has made a request to participate in the
5000m event. As he is an up coming athlete who could be a future
prospect for the national team the organisers took the decision to allow
him to compete. Werasinghe said that all athletes will be housed at St.
Benadict’s College (Boys) and Kotahena MV (Girls).
A colourful opening ceremony will be held meet on October 7 at 7.30
a.m., while the Sports Minister Bandula Basnayake will be the chief
guest on the closing day and will give away the awards. The closing
ceremony is scheduled to commence at 3.30p.m. |