Record breaking performance by Chamika:

Hariharan steals the limelight

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Royalist Chamika Karunaratne’s record breaking performance was overshadowed by a scintillating effort from Vadiveshwaran Hariharan of Hartley College, Jaffna who stole the limelight on the third day of the National School Games track and field meet which continued at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Chamika the youngest in the family of the famous Karunaratne brothers of badminton fame, set up a new meet record while competing in the boys under 15 javelin throw event with an effort of 55.62 metres.

This performance easily bettered the previous record of 53.30 metres held by Dumith Chandima of St. Joseph’s MV, Nugegoda last year.

He was followed by W. H. Madushanka (Joseph Vaz) and Sashith Madusanka (Rahula National School, Godakawela).

However the cynosure of all eyes was Vadiveshwaran Hariharan who produced another giant killing performance while representing the Northern Province.

The schoolboy from Hartley College, Jaffna cleared a distance of 36.90 metres to win the boys under 21 discus throw event ahead of some of the more fancied opponents.

Meanwhile Madushka Milan Dissanayake of Rajasinghe MMV, Hanwella equalled the record in the boys under 19 high jump event with an effort of 2.08 metres. The previous record is jointly held by H. I. C. de Soysa (Dharmaraja) and Senarath Fernando (Maris Stella).

The results (finals)

Boys under 15 javelin throw: (1) E. C. D. P. Karunaratne (Royal Colombo) 55.62 metres (NMR), (2) W. H. Madushanka (Joseph Vaz Wennappuwa) 52.02 metres, (3) Sashith Madushanka (Rahula National School, Gogakawela) 48.44 metres.

Boys under 17 triple jump: (1) Madushanka Wickrema (Taxila MMV Horana) 13.97 metres (2) Imantha Nilaweera (St. Servatius Matara) 13.83 metres, (3) T. A. T. Fernando (Nalanda Colombo) 13.74 metres

Boys under 19 high jump: (1) Milan Dissanayake (Rajasinghe MV Hanwella) 2.08 metres, (2) Nipuna Nirmal (St. Benedict’s, Kotahena)2.02 metres, (3) Tharuka Perera (Maris Stella) 1.98 metres.

Boys under 21 discus throw: (1) Vadiweswaran Hariharan (Hartley College Jaffna) 36.90 metres, (2) D. S. T. Hettiarachchi (Royal, Colombo) 35.70 metres, (3) Damith Jayasinghe (Saralankara MV, Gonapinuwala) 35.56 metres.

Girls under 19 shot putt: (1) Tiluni Menaka (Sujatha MV Matara) 10.82 metres, (2) Rashmika Kalupahana (Sumana BMV Ratnapura) 10.23 metres, (3) W. A. D. Weeraratne (Thabuttegama MMV) 9.93 metres.

Girls under 19 5000 metres: (1) Chamika Jayamini (Sumana BMV Ratnapura) 18.51.19 seconds, (2) M. Y. Kaushalya (Rahula MV Katugastota) 19.03.47 seconds, M. K. Seneviratne (Rahula MV Katugastota) 19.25.17 seconds.

Girls under 21 pole vault: (1) Hiranthi Ransimala (Sumana BMV Ratnapura) 2.40 metres, (2) G.N. M. Dhanapala (Ratnayake MV Walalla) 2.40 metres, (3) Dinushika Shyamali (Maguldamana MV Peletiyawa) 2.30 metres.

Boys under 19 5,000 metres: (1) C. N. Wijesinghe (Ratnayake MV Walalla) 16.03.2 seconds, (2) Rasika Prasad (Thibbatuwa MV Kekirawa) 16.03.44 seconds, (3) Kasun Gayantha (Saddarmalankara Pirivena, Ratnapura).

Girls under 17 long jump: (1) Amaya Karunaratne (Visakha Colombo) 5.32 metres, (2) Heshandhi Dharmadasa (Visakha Colombo), 5.12 metres, K.D. Herath (Anuradhapura MV) 5.00 metres.

Boys under 21 long jump: (1) Rashith Dilsahan (Taxila MMV) 6.90 metres, (2) Lahiru Dilankara (Vidyaloka MV Galle) 6.65 metres, (3) D. S. Samarasinghe (Kolongoda MMV) 6.64 metres.

Boys under 19 discus throw: (1) A. M. Dilshan (Rajasinghe MV Hanwella) 42.82 metres, (2) G. P. Wijesinghe (Ranabima Royal Peradeniya) 42.26 metres, (3) A. S. Bandara (Ranabima Royal Peradeniya) 41.35 metres.

Girls under 15 javelin throw: (1) Madushani Ranasinghe (Irahandaketuwewa MV) 32.88 metres, (2) Indunil Hansika (Sumana BMV, Ratnapura) 32.58 metres, (3) Chamika Gunaratne (Good Shepherd Convent, Panadura) 26.77 metres.

Boys under 15 high jump: (1) Eranga Janith (Gonsalves MV, Panadura) 1.80 metres, (2) P. M. Herath (Mahanama MV, Welipannagahamulla) 1.75 metres, (3) Udayaratne Bandara (Atami International School, Wattala) 1.73 metres.

Girls under 21 1500 metres: (1) Nilani Ratnayake (Sumana BMV Ratnapura) 4.55.70 seconds, A. Yasotha (Paratkodicheni Vinayagar MV) 5.11.45 seconds, (3) Subada Subashini (Hapitigama MV Kaleliya) 5.13.18 seconds.