Shashintha expected to extend his record-breaking spree

All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship

by Reemus Fernando

The 400 metres is one of the most looked forward to disciplines in the schools circuit. The likes of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana sprinter Shashintha Silva and Jithma Wijetunga of Lyceum International Wattala are the top-notch athletes vying to bag top honours in the discipline when the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championship commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

The South Asian Junior Championship medallist Shashintha is in terrific form after having shattered meet records in almost all local competitions that he took part this year.

He took under his belt the Under 18 400 metres meet record of the Junior National Championship with a feat of 47.67 seconds early this year before bettering the Western Province Schools Games record.

At the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship, he went on to equal one of the longest standing National Youth records when he clocked 47.10 seconds. Ratnayake Central Walala athlete Manoj Pushpakumara’s youth record had remained unshaken since 2002.

He is expected to break the Schools Games record of 47.53 seconds in the Under 18 category during the weekend.

Wijetunga recorded two sub 55 seconds performances this year. The South Asian Junior Championships medallist Thakshima Nuhasna of Matara Central and Wijetunga are expected to go head-to-head in the Under 20 400 metres, while Warsha Dewmini of Defence Services College Colombo and Sashini Bhagya of Lyceum International Wattala are the athletes vying for honours in the Under 18 girls’ 400 metres.

Nerudaka Vishal of St. Joseph Vaz’s College Wennappuwa is another sprinter waiting to impress in the 400 metres. He broke the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championship meet record in the Under 16 age category and would be eager to bag the title to make it two in two.

The five-day event conducted by the Ministry of Education will conclude on Tuesday.