Thushen provides Junior National Championship a great start

Maris Stella College has produced a number of track and field champions including current national record holder in the men’s high jump Ushan Thivanka. On Tuesday when the Junior National Athletics Championship recommenced from where it was interrupted last month, Thushen Silva emerged as another future prospect from the school from Negombo as he won the Under 18 boys’ pole vault.

Thushen’s feat reminded the impressive feats of Ushan who too started excelling in field events in the Under 18 age category before dominating at senior national level.

Thushen’s 4.20 metres mark won Maris Stella College the coveted gold.

Raheema Hasthika Wickramasekara of St. Peter’s managed a height of four metres, while C. Thusanththan of Mahajana College, Jaffna settled for the bronze with a height of 3.80 metres.

In one of the best performances in the girls’ category Keshavi Udeshani Weerasinghe of Princess of Wales, Moratuwa established a new record with a feat of 37.42 metres in the Under 16 girls’ javelin throw. She broke a record established in 2018 by V.L.K. Hapuarachchi of Sumana Balika, Ratnapura. Incidentally, her closest rival settled for a throw below the 24 metres mark.

In the Under 18 girls’ high jump Sithuli Sadithya of Samudra Devi Balika cleared 1.64 metres to win.

Oshini Kavindya Kodikara of St. Lawrance’s Convent, Colombo won the Under 16 girls’ long jump with a feat of 5.53 metres.

Jayavi Ranhida Alwis of Royal College, Panadura won the Under 18 boys’ shot put with a distance of 16.98 metres.

The Junior National Athletics Championship which was interrupted on May 9 due to violence that erupted in Colombo recommenced at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

The premier junior championship conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics will conclude on Friday.