Shelinda, Ravindu best athletes
Shelinda Jansen, sprinter from Gateway International School Rajagiriya and Ravindu Bandara, quarter-miler from Wekada MV, were adjudged the best female and male athlete at the All Island School Games 2019 concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on sunday.
It was Shelinda’s 200m performance that sealed the deal for her to be adjudged the best athlete, as her time of 24.48 seconds was equal to 990 points on the IAAF scoring table. She also won the Gold medal in the 100m, and while trailing in the under-20 4x100m relay, she wowed the Stadium with her mesmerizing anchor leg to help Gateway clinch the Gold.
Ravindu, who excelled by clocking an amazing 47.53 seconds to win the under-18 boys 400m title beating Asian Youth Silver medalist Navishka Sandeesh, was the best performer among the boys’ at the meet. His timing was even better than the under-20 athletes and equal to 1,011 points on the IAAF scoring table, which easily won him the top award.
Navidu Sankalpa, who clocked 53.5 seconds in the 400m hurdles, was adjudged as best hurdler of the meet, while G.M. Sandaruwan, who leapt 15.32m in the triple jump, was the best jumper of the meet. St Peter’s Rumesh Tharanga who won the Javelin throw with a distance of 66.63m, was the best thrower.
St Peter’s College Bambalapitiya once again excelled by winning the Boys’ Championship with 133 points, largely backed by athletes who were recently absorbed into the school countrywide. St Mary’s College Chilaw finished second with 73 points, while A.Rathnayaka CC Walala finished third with 72 points.
A. Rathnayaka CC Walala sealed the girls championship with a staggering 235 points beating Sumana BV (89 points) and Gateway International School Rajagiriya (74 points). Walala also sealed the Mix Schools Championship with 307 points. Gateway Rajagiriya finished second with 89 points while Sir John Kothalawala MV Kurunegala finished third with 56 points.
There were several athletes who excelled during five day of championship apart from the athletes who won special awards. Sprinter from Sir John Kothalawala, Sithum Jayasundara, shone with four Gold medals in the under-16 category winning the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay with new meet records, except in the 100m. Unfortunately during the meet he had misplaced his pair of spikes and couldn’t find it, where the sponsor of the meet Allianz Private Limited came forward to gift a new pair of spikes to Sithum. Also, Nestle Lanka PLC came forward to supply a monthly nutrition allowance to the athlete.
Sadeepa Henderson from Gateway Rajagiriya excelled by winning three individual Gold medals in the Girls’ under-18 category (100m, 200m and long jump), which was a repeat of what she achieved during the Junior National and John Tarbat Championship earlier this year. Her time of 24.88 seconds in the 200m seconds was a personal best and a new meet record.
Young Tharushi Karunarathne of A. Rathnayaka CC Walala was another athlete who caught the eye every time she came on to the track. She too sealed four Gold medals winning the 400m, 800m, 4x100m and 4x400m, shattering the meet records of all four events. Her time in the 400m and 800m was also the best among the Girls’ during the meet.
The meet also saw the return of Chelsea Bendarage, who tested positive for using a banned substance (anabolic steroids), but was found not guilty on 28 October without disclosing on what grounds. She anchored her school, Gamini National School, Bentara to the Silver medal in the Girls’ under-20 category.
