National Youth Championships

by Reemus Fernando

Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Ayomal Akalanka and St. Lawrance’s Convent, Wellawatta athlete Oshini Kodikara capped a remarkable year in track and field bagging the best athlete titles in the Under 20 age category at the National Youth Athletics Championships concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday.

The athletes, who competed in the Under 18 age category at junior schools competitions this year featured in the Under 20 events at the three-day Youth Championship.

Akalanka who won medals at both the Asain Youth Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games early this year, clocked an impressive 51.47 seconds to create a new meet record in the Under 20 400 metres hurdles. His performances proved to be the best performance in the Under 20 age category.

Kodikara was the athlete to beat in the Under 18 age category at almost all junior competitions this year and she proved to be the best even in the Under 20 age category at this meet as she won both the Under 20 girls long jump and the triple jump. Her performance of 12.4 metres in the triple jump was adjudged the best in the age category.

Asian Games medallist Lakshima Mendis, who erased a longstanding meet record in the Over 20 women’s 400 metres won the best athlete award in her age category. The Asian Games 4×400 metres relay medallist clocked 54.24 seconds in her pet event.

Janindu Lakvijaya, the national record holder in the men’s 110 metres hurdles bagged the award in the Over 20 men’s category for his record breaking feat of 13.86 seconds.Gampaha District which aggregated 166 points emerged overall champions, while Colombo (96) and Urban Youth (77) finished second and third respectively.