St. Benedict’s win Colombo Zonal Athletics Championship

St. Benedict’s College athletes put up a fine all-round performance to bag the title of the Colombo Zonal Athletics Championship by a lead of 36 points over the second placed St. Peter’s College. St. Benedict’s also won the overall Relay Championship and their high jumper Pasan Dilhara was awarded the Champion Athlete of the Meet for clearing over two meters in the Under 20 event. The meet was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium from August 23 to 26.

St. Benedict’s dominated the middle and long distances, hurdle events and the relays, while faring well in the field events. In Under 20 – 800m and 1500m Tharindu Nimesh and Chirath Perera won the first and second places alternatively. Sakuntha Balasuriya won both the Under 18 800m and 1500m easily and ran a superb final lap in the Under 18 4 x 400m Relay to bring victory to the Bens in the last event of the meet.

Kalana Jayamanne won three events in the Under 16 category bagging gold in 400m, 800m, and 300m hurdles. In field events, Pasindu Nanayakkara won the double Long Jump and Triple Jump. Gold medals were also won by Steve Fernando, Under 18 – Putt shot, Yashen Theekshana Under 16 – javelin throw and Minol Imesh, Under 20 – 400m hurdles. It was indeed a brilliant team effort and all the hard work put in by the athletes, coaching and the support staff brought in the desired result for the college.