Ramesh, Dharshani win Youth Marathon titles

Pavendra Ramesh of Colombo District and Nimesha Dharshani of Moneragala District won the men’s and women’s marathon titles of the 34th National Youth Sports Festival at Maharagama on Sunday.

Ramesh clocked 2:50.07 seconds to complete the full marathon which routed along the High Level Road, making a u turn at Meepe to return along the same to finish opposite the National Youth Services Centre. Danushka Prabath Rathnayake (2:54.57 secs) from Badulla and Tharusha Akalanka (3:02.17 secs) representing the Colombo District finished second and third.

In the women’s competition (21.0975km), Dharshani returned a time of 1:25.55 seconds to win, while Kumudu Kumari (1;28.03) of Kandy and Arumugam Anusha (1:29.46) of Nuwara Eliya finished second and third.

The final events of the National Youth Sports Festival will be held from November 16 to 19 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Nimesha Dharshani, Kumudu Kumari and Arumugam Anusha shared the first three places in the women’s half marathon.