Jayeshi set to retain best athlete title

by Reemus Fernando

Asian Games medallist Jayeshi Uththara took a step closer to retaining the best athlete title she won last year as she produced a record breaking performance to win the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres on the penultimate day of the Athletics Championship of the Western Province Schools Games at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

Uththara who won the women’s 4×400 metres bronze for Sri Lanka at the recently held Asian Games clocked 55.6 seconds to establish a new meet record in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres final.

Former Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala sprinter Sithum Jayasundara competing for Lyceum Wattala clocked an impressive 48.4 seconds to win the corresponding boys’ 400 metres.

He was one of the three Lyceum athletes to win age group 400 metres titles. While Rehan Pehesara Perera clocked 51.0 seconds to win the Under 16 boys’ 400 metres, Githma Wijetunga returned a time of 58.3 seconds to clinch the Under 18 girls’ 400 metres title.

In the other age group 400 metres finals, Radini de Silva of St. Pauls’ Balika (Under 16 girls’ – 58.4 secs) and Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte sprinter Kalhara Indupa Silva (Under 18 boys’ 400m- 49.0) were the winners.

The Under 18 boys’ 1,500 metres record (4:15.07 of 2019) received a beating as St. Benedict’s College runner Kalana Oshada Jayamanne returned a time of 4:14.06 seconds to win.The corresponding girls’ 1500 metres was won by H.F.D. Madumandili of S. Mahinda Vidyalaya Alubomuulla. She returned a time of 5:16.05 seconds.