Mayon in a zone of his own

by Reemus Fernando

Emerging young talent Mayon Chiran of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa lived up to his billing winning the Under 14 shot put with a new record mark on day one of the Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday.

He was scheduled to compete in the other two throwing events on Saturday and Sunday and will be the hot favourite to win the best athlete title in his age category at the end of the championship today.While almost all of his counterparts struggled to clear the 13 metres mark, the athlete trained by his father easily cleared the 15 metres mark in his very first attempt.

He was the winner of the best athlete title of his age category at the recently held All Island Schools Games where he cleared a distance of 15.13 metres in the shot put to own the Games record. Mayon has produced record breaking performances at all major national level schools competitions this year.

Though he could excel in shot put at all major competitions, Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championships is the only competition where athletes in the Under 14 age category can compete in the shot put, javelin and discus throw.

The strongly built youngster was in a zone of his own as he powered his way to records. Not many young throwers have displayed the power and speed showcased  by this youngster at this age category. Even the very few athletes who have shown such prowess at lower age categories have later gone onto take up other sports.

At a time when track and field sports has received a shot in the arm following historic victories at the recently held Asian Games it is incumbent upon authorities to take care of the emerging athletes like Mayon who have the potential to excel at international level one day.