Samarajeewa, Abeyratne win Cross Country Race

Anuradha Abeysekera

D. L Samarajeewa of Central Province and G.T.A. Abeyratne of Southern Province won the men’s and women’s champion titles respectively in the 23rd National Cross Country Race, which concluded at the Dodangoda District Secretariat ground, Kalutara yesterday. Samarajeewa completed the 12 km men’s race within 40 minutes and 29 seconds while Abeyratne took 29 minutes and 54 seconds to run 8km women’s event.

K.G. R. Saman Kumar of Uva Province and B. Vijitha Kumara of Southern Province became the second and third respectively in the men’s race, clocking 40M:35S and 40M:37S. In the women’s event, N. G. Rajasekara of Western Province who crossed the tape in 30 minutes and nine seconds won the second place, keeping Southerner W. K. L. A. Nimalee in the third place two seconds behind (30M:12S).

The race was conducted by the Sports Ministry according to the international standards as the inaugural event of the 38th N

ational Sports Festival.

Athletes who are on par with the international minimum qualifying times will represent the country in the Asian Cross Country Championship, which is to be held on march 14 in China.

Athletes from the hills once again proved their dominance in the long distance running as the Central Province bagged both men’s and women’s team championships. Western Province and Uva Province emerged second and third respectively in the men’s team championship while Wayamba Province became second and Western Province won the third place in the women’s fleet.

Altogether 78 men and 44 women athletes took part in the final race after qualifying from the Provincial level.

The track was spanned on rough terrain through tea and rubber cultivation in Dodangoda, Payagala and Ambagahakumbura areas of the Kalutara District. The race covered a tough track where the runners had to run through hilly clay pathways of estates most of the time. The men’s winner Samarajeewa who has proved his supremacy in long distance running by claiming 5000M and 10 000M titles in the 37th National Sports Festival last year said that he found no challenge in the race as his practicing track is much more tough in the hill country.

The women’s champion Abeyrathne spoke with excitement as this is her first major National level achievement in cross country racing and said that she will do her best to improve more in future under her new coach.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Sports Development Department Director General Ranjani Jayakody requested all athletes to give priority to National Sports Festival and make maximum use of the event to gain experience in order to get into the international level as it is the top most level in the local sporting arena.

Kalutara District Additional District Secretary B.G.S. Gunathileke, Athletic Association Chairman Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando and Sports Ministry Officials were present at the award ceremony.