Rising star Ayomal Akalanka joined the sub 47 seconds club in the men’s 400 metres, young aspirant Dilni Rajapaksha bagged a meet record double and Vavuniya’s new-found endurance runner Ilango Vikirthan and St. Aloysius’ Ratnapura prodigy Lahiru Achintha made their presence felt with stunning performaces as the Junior National Athletics Championship concluded with a host of impressive feats at Diyagama on Sunday.

The Ambagamuwa Central athlete Akalanka who shattered his own national junior record in the 400 metres hurdles on Friday, reached his personal best in the 400 metres with a remarkable meet record performance of 46.46 seconds in the Under 20 final. The athlete trained by Anura Bandara was adjudged the Best Athlete in his age category and the Best Performer of the meet for his National Junior record time of 50.20 seconds in the 400 metres hurdles. Incidentally, his 50.20 seconds feat is the fastest performance in Asia this year in the junior category.

Lyceum International Wattala athlete Dilni Rajapaksha continued her record-breaking form winning the Under 16 triple jump with a new meet record distance of 11.66 m. It was the second time she improved a meet record at this meet. She broke her own records in the long jump and triple jump established last year. Her meet record of 5.96 metres in the Under 16 girls’ long jump earned her the Best Athlete title of her age category.

The day’s most remarkable finish was delivered by South Asian Junior Championship medallist Shavindu Avishka of Dhammissara National School and Lahiru Achintha who bettered the meet record in the Under 18 boys’ 1500m with a photofinish. Achintha pipped Avishka by miliseconds to write his name against the new meet record as he stopped the clock at 4:00.47 seconds.

In the corresponding girls’ event Tharushi Abisheka returned a time of 4:33.85 seconds to break her own meet record.

Lyceum International Wattala sprinter Dhananjana Fernando stood out once again in the 100 metres finishing the Under 18 girls’ event in a time of 12.08 seconds. She has been the fastest in the 100 metres even at senior national level this season and the meet record feat was something the enthusiasts were eagerly anticipating as she had clocked sub 12 seconds early this year.

Iresh Bogoda of Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala excelled in the Under 18 boys’ 400 metres winning in a meet record time of 47.58 seconds.

In the girls’ 400 metres, Chenadi Dewhara Bendarage of Gamini National School, Benthota created a new meet record stopping the clock at 57.33 seconds. The fastest 400 metres performance in the girls’ category was achieved by Matara Central’s Nuhansa Kodituwakku who clocked 55.03 seconds to win the Under 20 event. That feat fetched her the Best Athlete title in the age category.

Former Nannapurawa MV athlete Madushani Herath flexed her muscles ahead of the Thailand Open with an impressive jump of 13.53 metres to win the Under 23 triple jump. She won the best athlete title in her age category. In the Under 23 men’s category, Rumesh Tharanga’s record breaking 82.93 metres throw (javelin) won him the Best Athlete award.

The final day was given a strong start by Poovarasankulam MV, Vavuniya athlete Ilango Vikirthan who clocked 15:13.25 seconds to win the Under 20 boys’ 5,000 metres. It was his third title of the meet and the third time he turned tables on athletes traning at high altitudes. His most impressive performance however was his record breaking time of 9:25.81 seconds in the Under 20 3,000metres steeplechase on day two.

by Reemus Fernando

Ilango Vikirthan from Vavunia won three golds and established a meet record in the Under 20 3,000 metres steeplechase.

Lahiru Achintha (right) pipped Shavindu Avishka to win the Under 18 boys’ 1,500 metres

Madushani Herath competes in the Under 23 triple jump