Madirika, Dunukara clinch titles at inaugural Race Walking championship

by Reemus Fernando

Leading contenders Kalhari Madirika and Sandaruwan Dunukara won the women’s and men’s titles respectively at the inaugural Race Walking Championships conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics in Colombo on Sunday.

The many time National Sports Festival race walking champion Dunukara clocked 97 minutes and 35 seconds to finish the 20 kilometres race conducted at the Independence Square in Colombo. Dunukara was nearly two minutes ahead of fellow Army athlete Y.S. Wimalasooriya (1:39.22) who settled for the runner up position. R.B.S.K. Sampath who is also from Army finished third (1:42.58).

In the women’s competition, Madirika returned a time of one hour, 51 minutes and 45 seconds to win. P.B. Gayani finished second (1:52.12). Air Force athlete Dinusha Dihani who finished third was the only athlete outside Army to win a podium position in both categories.

It is the first time that Sri Lanka Athletics had conducted a race walking championship, though the sports governing body had held the discipline occasionally alongside other events.

In the absence of a separate national championship, race walking athletes had considered the Race Walking event of the National Sports Festival as their top competition of the year so far.