Heshan Unamboowe in new national record

By Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College put a remarkable performance to establish a national record in the 200 metres individual medley, while Miniruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International School Kandy together with C. M. N. Hulangamuwa of Trinity and Sheron de Hoedt of St. Peter's College set new meet records on the penultimate day of the 34th Annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool yesterday.

The championships is conducted by Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association and sponsored by Milo-Nestle Lanka Ltd.

Heshan swimming in lane four in the 200 metres individual medley boys under-15 showed his class surging ahead in all four strokes to time 2.17.36 secs and to erase of the national record held by Andrew Abeysinghe of Rainbow AC 2.17.57 secs at the 2005 National Swimming Championships.

Sahan Rupasinghe of St. Joseph's College finished second 2.31.42 secs and Rangamal Arunaweera of Royal in third place 2.32.93 secs. On Friday Heshan also own the 50 metres butterfly stroke but his record was not counted as the event was held for the second year.

Miniruwani was responsible for the second record in the 200 metres Individual Medley girls under-15 'clocking' 2.43.70 secs. She erased off her won mark of 2.46.84 secs. Dehara Katipearachchi of Musaeus College second 2.50.11 secs and Reshika Udugampola of Gateway College, Rajagiriya third 2.58.52 secs.

Third record went to C. M. N. Hulangamuwa of Trinity in the 200 metres individual medley boys under 11. He returned a time of 2.46.81 secs to beat the previous mark held by Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity 2.52.25 secs in 2000. Sheron de Hoedt of St. Peter's College added the other record in the 50 metres breast stroke boys under-19 - 45.62 secs. The earlier mark was by I. Athurupana of Trinity 46.20 in 2005. In the diving championships (boys) Royal the defending champions were in front coming on top in the one and three metre spring board diving.

Diving (One metre spring board)

Boys: Under - 9 - Rasheed Azeez (Royal) winner 58.05 points, Under - 11 - Sahan Peiris (Royal) 92.90 points, Under 13 - Dilshan Walkanda (Royal) 112.55 points (Three metre spring board)

Under-15 - Dirshan Wijesinghe (Mahanama College) 170.95 points

Under - 17 - Hiras Hizbullah (Royal) 181.50 points

Girls: (one metre spring board)

Under - 9 - Nivanka Nanayakkara (Bishops College) 38.30 point, Under- 11 - Nethmi Liyanage (Visakha Vidyalaya) 91.90 points, Under - 13 - Sonali Samarakoon (Taxila College Horana) 91.20 points (Three meter spring board) Under - 15 - Gethmi Gunasekera (Anula Vidyalaya) 95.30 points, Under - 17 - Lukshani Ratnayake (Visakha Vidyalaya) 169.67 points.

St. Joseph's and Mahamaya took the top spot in the boys and girls overall standing at the end of the third day events.

Josephian has already collected 259 points, Trinity in second position with 250 points, Ananda third 208 points and Royal fourth with 178 points.

In the girls Mahamaya College in first position with 195 points, Musaeus College second 148, Hillwood College Kandy third 105 and Ladies College fourth 102.

The meet will be continued today commencing at 8 a.m.