Nilani, Greshan awarded for best athletes as SLEME and Artillery tied with 282 points

After battling for three days, neither of the arch rivals in the Army Athletics arena – Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Regiment neither (SLEME) nor Artillery Regiment (SLA) – went home happy, as they were adjudged joint champions. Both Regiments tied with 282 points at the Army Athletics Championship 2019 which concluded at Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday (28) .
SLEME who had been dominating the track in recent years, were far behind earlier in the Championship. Artillery with their glorious past were leading from the beginning, but things came down to the wire when SLEME sealed the Gold medal in the last event, the 4x400m relay, with Artillery finishing fourth. Initially SLEME celebrated anticipating they had won the Championship, but moments later Artillery was seen celebrating assuming they had won a close battle on points, but it was disappointment for both Regiments in the end.
Nilani Rathnayaka who set a new Sri Lanka record in the 5000m and a meet record in the 3000m steeple chase, and Greshan Dhananjaya who won the long jump with a personal best and triple jump with an impressive 16.32m jump, were adjudged best female and male athlete respectively. They were awarded motor bikes and smart phones. Triple Jumper Vidusha Lakshani who won Asian Championship silver medal this year adjudged as most outstanding Army Athlete of the year.
In the women’s competition 5th Army Women’s Corps dominated with 217 points with Signal Corps (Women’s) and 2nd Army Women’s Corps finishing second and third.
A total of 21 meet records were set during the championship, including five Army records and four Sri Lanka records. Three of the records came in relays.
Earlier in the day, Yupun Abeykoon beat South Asian record holder and National Champion Himasha Eashan in the 100m to be adjudged the fastest man of the meet. He clocked 10.44 seconds which was a new meet record. Yupun then anchored the 4x100m SLEME relay team to the Gold medal setting a new meet record of 39.77 seconds in the process. Lakshika Sugandhi who set a new meet record in the 200m, won the 100m too clocking a seasonal best of 11.96 seconds.
Aruna Darshana sealed the 400m with a seasonal best 46.38 seconds, while Upamalika Rathnakumari won the 400m with a time of 54.06 seconds. 1500m National Champion Kupun Kushantha was beaten by Rusiru Chathuranga in the 1500m, while SLEME sealed both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events.
Hurdler Roshan Dammika Ranathunga clocked 14.16 seconds to win the 110m hurdles and set a new meet record, while Olympian Javelin Thrower Sumedha Ranasinghe threw 79.12m to set a new meet record. Fifth Army Women’s corp anchored by Nadeesha Ramanayaka, who was running despite an injury during a gym session few days ago, set two new meet records in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
Results
Men
10000M: 1. RMS Pushpakumara (SLA) 30:41.66 sec, 2. K. Shanmugeswaren (SLA) 30:52.21 sec, 3. MV Kumara (SLAC) 31:01.22 sec
100M: 1. Yupun Abeykoon (SLEME) 10.44 sec, 2. Himasha Eashan (SLA) 10.62 sec, 3. Mohammad Ashroff (SLEME) 10.82 sec
Triple Jump: 1. Greshan Dhananjaya (SLEME) 16.32m, 2. NS Ahamed (SLEME) 16.02m, 3. AM Ariyarathne (SLA) 15.78m
110m Hurdle: 1. Roshan Dammika (SLEME) 14.16 sec, 2. DD Ariyarathne (SLASC) 14.75 sec, 3. WM Udayakumara (SLEME) 14.82 sec
400M: 1. Aruna Darshana (SLA) 46.38 sec, 2. Lakmal Gunarathne (SLSR) 46.64 sec, 3. RN Rajakaruna (SLEME) 47.42 sec
1500M: 1. Rusiru Chathuranga (Gemunu) 3:48.56 sec, 2. Kupun Kushantha (SLEME) 3:49.78 sec, 3. M.Nifras (SLEME) 3:51.39 sec
Pole Vault: 1. SE Janith (SLASC) 4.71m , 2. Ajith Karunathilaka (SLEME) 4.50m, 3. RP Murugiah (SLNG) 4.50m
Shot Put: 1. Samith Fernando (SLA) 15.76m, 2. Samitha Jayawardana (SLEME) 15.38m, 3. UD Perera (SLA) 14.33m
Javelin Throw: 1. Sumedha Ranasinghe (SLEME) 79.12m, 2. Waruna Lakshan Dayarathne (SLLI) 73.83m, 3. CS Padmasiri (SLA) 68.97m
4x100M: 1. SLEME 39.77 sec, 2. SLASC 40.27 sec, 3. SLA 40.29 sec
4x400M: 1. SLEME 3:09.4 sec, 2. SLSR 3:11.43 sec, 3. SLLI 3:11.76sec

Women
5000M: 1. Nilani Rathnayaka (7SLAWC) 16:17.82 sec, 2. MN Nandasena (4(V)SLAWC) 17:18.98 sec, 3. SN Bandara (2(V)SLAWC) 18:14.96 sec
Hammer Throw: 1. SN Rathnasiri (5(V)SLAWC) 44.18m, 2. WN Premathilake (5(V)SLAWC) 18:56m, 3. NM Balasooriya (5(V)SLAWC) 17.80m
100M: 1. Lakshika Sugandhi (2(V)SLAWC) 11.96 sec, 2. Lakshani Sarangi (5(V)SLAWC) 12.30sec, 3. TA Muthukumarana (SLSC(W)) 12.46 sec
400M: 1. Upamalika Rathnakumari (5(V)SLAWC) 54.6 sec, 2. Dilshi Kumarasinghe (SLSC(W)) 54.31sec , 3. LP Maduwanthi (5(V)SLAWC) 1:08.34 sec
4x400m: 1. (5(V)SLAWC) 3:46.61 sec, 2. SLSC(W) 3:57.83 sec, 3. (2(V)SLAWC) 4:20.03 sec
1500M: 1. Champika Dilrukshi (4(V) SLAWC) 4:25.63 sec, 2. MS Sewwandhi (5(V)SLAWC) 5:14.76 sec, 3. SM Epa (1SLAC) 6:13.78 sec