53rd Junior National Championship:

Dulakshi sets up a new Sri Lanka record

Yasaratne Gamage

The 53rd Junior National Championships concluded with one new Sri Lanka record, 29 new meet records and two records being equalled at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Sports Complex , Diyagama yesterday.

W P E R Dulakshi of Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)set up a new Sri Lankan Record in the under 23 women’s 3000 metres Steeplechase when she crossed the finish line in 10 37.57 seconds on the second day.

She surpassed T M U M K Seelaratne’s 2010 record , a timing of 11.48.9 seconds. W K L A Nimali (SLAF) who came second in the same event also recorded a timing of 10 minute 47.76 to be ahead of Seelaratne’s timing.

Milantha Sampath Dissanayake of Lanka Lions Sports Club won the Dialog Challenge Trophy for best athlete in boys’ under 23 category while new Sri Lanka record holder W P E R Dulakshi won the trophy in the girls’ category.

I K D Madushan of Ratnayake Central , Walala became the best athlete in boys’ under 20 to grab D Thabrew Memorial Challenge Trophy and the best girl athlete in the same age category was S R J Pabasara Senanayake of St Joseph’s BMV, Kegalle who was awarded the Lt Col W Wimaladasa Challenge Trophy.

N Vyrawananthan Challenge Trophy for best athlete in under 18 boys’ category went to K D S V Randeniya of Ranabima Royal College, Peradeniya for his timing of 14 .66 seconds in 110 hurdles while Akshana Maralanda of Maha Maya BMV, Kandy who finished the girl’ 200 metres in 25.66 seconds was awarded Sugath Thilakaratne Challenge Trophy in the same age category.

Yomal Ravisara of St Sebastian’s College, Kandana who set up a new meet record in under 16 boys ‘ 400 metres ( 50.80 seconds ) was adjudged the best athlete and was awarded N A Q N C Kurera Challenge Trophy.

R G N P S Rambukwella of Christ Church National School, Matale won the Susanthika Jayasinghe Challenge Trophy for the best athlete in girls’ under 16 category for her performance in 200 metres which was a timing of 26.47 seconds.

The best long jumper of Junior Nationals 2011 was Milantha Sampath Dissanayake who cleared a distance of 7.67 metres to surpass the previous record. He was awarded the D Tory Danushka Tabrew Memorial Challenge Trophy.

Priyanthi Gunasekara Challenge Trophy for the best woman hurdler was won by D A Harshani Wijesinghe of St Josephs’ BMV Kegalle, who set up a new meet record in 100 metre hurdles by finishing the event in 14. 53 seconds. The best thrower of the Junior Championships was J A S Madurange of Sri Lanka Army and he won the Brigadier R P Liyanage Memorial Challenge Cup when he landed the javelin at a distance of 67.08 metres.