Sir John Tarbat Junior Championships

by Reemus Fernando

St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya sprinter Sugitharan Nijesh was the fastest in the Under 15 boys 100 metres among athletes in the Colombo and Kalutara districts as eight athletes clocked sub 12 seconds in the 100 metres dash at the stage one competition of the Sir John Tarbat Junior Championship which ended at Bandaragama on Saturday

Sugitharan clocked 11.74 seconds to lead the sprinters from the Colombo and Kalutara District leg of the multi stage championship. Sri Lanka Schools Athletics Association had allowed athletes from several other Districts to participate at Bandaragama after they had missed their relevant stages due to unavoidable circumstances.

Gateway College, Kandy sprinter I. Thowfeek who was among such athletes was the fastest in that age group as he clocked 11.64 seconds to produce the fastest feat. He also topped the list in the 200 metres clocking 24.31 seconds.

Alongside Sugitheran S. Dulsara of Mahanama College – Colombo (11.75 secs), K. Jayameth of Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (11.90 secs), N. Pansilu of President’s College Kotte (11.91secs), S. Ositha of D. S. Senanayaka College, Colombo (11.92 secs), D. Vithana of Kannangara Central Mathugama (11.92 secs), R.A. Shore of Hejaaz International School, Mount Lavinia (11.97 secs) and O. A. Gunawardhana of Bandaranayaka Central, Veyangoda (11.98 secs) clocked sub 12 seconds while nearly 30 other sprinters too reached merit standard of 12.60 seconds mark.

In the Under 14 age category A. Thewarapperuma of Gateway College Colombo was the fastest as he clocked 11.96 seconds. He was the only athlete to clock sub 12 seconds. He was also the top performer in both the 200 metres (24.43secs) and the long jump (5.60m).

In field events, M. Amaraweera of D. S. Senanayaka College, Colombo excelled producing the best performances in both the Under 15 boys high jump (1.52m) and the long jump (5.71m).

The best in the throwing events was Mayon Rajasinghe. The former Prince of Wales College thrower competing for St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road topped the lists in the shot put (13.64m), discus throw (40.03m) and javelin throw (46.80m) in the under 15 age category.

In the girls category, Vinuthi Vihansa of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya (13.38 secs in the 100m) was the fastest in the under 15 catego-ry, while Ladies College Colombosprinter R. Jayasundara clocked 13.26 seconds to top the Under 14 age group. Vihansa also topped the 200 metres with a time of 28.06 seconds.

In the 800 metres, the longest distance of the under 15 age category, W.D.M. Dulmini of St John Bosco’s College, Hanwella returned the best time of 2:42.0 seconds.

P.M. Gamage of St. Mary’s College, Veyangoda toped the lists in both the Under 15 shot put (10.14m) and the discus throw (23.27m).

G.L. Swarnamali of Hewavitharana M.V Rajagiriya was the top performer in both the 200m (27.19 secs) and the 400 metres (63.38 secs) in the under 14 age group.