All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships 

By Reemus Fernando  

Commonwealth Youth Games medallist Ayomal Akalanka, the relay teams of Holy Cross College, Gampaha, Maris Stella College, Negombo and St. Benedict’s College Kotahena established new meet records on the final day as Maris Stella, and Lyceum International, Wattala won the overall boys’ and girls’ titles respectively of the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championships at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The day’s most decisive performance was produced by the Under 20 girls’ 4×400 metres team of Holy Cross College, Gampaha. The team inclusive of Asian Games medallist Jayeshi Uththara beat Ratnayake Central to the second place to win the discipline in a new meet record time of 3:54.61 seconds. The girls from Walala have been dominating the Under 20 and Under 18 4×400 metres relays at these championships.

Losing their grip in these events proved to be crucial as Ratnayake Central conceded the girls’ overall title after many years. The Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne’s absence in the Under 20 girls’ 4×400 metres cost Ratnayake Central dearly as Lyceum aggregated 160 points against Ratnayake Central’s 149 points.  Young prodigy Dilini Nethsala Rajapaksha was instrumental in winning as many as 30 points for Lyceum as she won her third individual event yesterday. She added the 60 metres title to her record-breaking feats in the Under 14 long jump and high jump.

In the boys’ category, Maris Stella, Negombo aggregated 90 points to regain the title which they last won in 2018. Lyceum were the runners up with 84 points. Maris Stella’s most notable performance of the day came from the Under 16 boys’ 4×100 metres relay team. They established a new record with a feat of 43.90 seconds. The team inclusive of Sahas Fonseka, Dineth Sandeepana, Rashmika Rusiru and Dilanka Devinda became the first team to clock sub 44 seconds in the 4×100 metres relay in their age category.

While St. Benedict’s renewed the meet record in the Under 20 boys’ 4×400 metres (3:17.10 secs), Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Ayomal Akalanka clocked 51.10 seconds to create a new record in the Under 18 boys’ 400 metres hurdles.

Tharushi Karunaratne for her record-breaking feat in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres and Kahawatta Central athlete Malith Yasiru for his impressive performance in the triple jump were awarded the best athlete titles.