St. Joseph’s and Mahamaya fancied to come on top

by Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Swimmers from St. Joseph’s College, the undisputed boys champions and Mahamaya College, Kandy the girls champions will go out firm favourites at the two-day National Pentathlon Swimming Championships the second major meet conducted of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) to be held on May 16 and 17 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool.

According to Nethru Nanayakkara, Media coordinator SLASU, all leading swimmers have entered for this meet and the swimmers must participate in all four strokes in addition to the individual medley event. Places are allotted according to the times returned and the swimmers obtaining the best timings will be adjudged the winner. The meet is intended for swimmers who have reached a high standard and are proficient in all four strokes.

St. Joseph’s and Mahamaya have performed creditably at the Short Course National Swimming Championships concluded at Hillwood College, Kandy pool recently. Furthermore both St. Joseph’s and Mahamaya are the All-Island Schools Swimming champions. Both schools are expected to go for repeat performances.

Trinity, Ananda, Royal, S. Thomas’ College and AIS are bound to offer stiff opposition to St. Joseph’s College in the boys events. In the girls events, Mahamaya are fancied to retain the title on their swimmers current excellent form. Ladies College, Musaeus College, Hillwood College Kandy, Otter AC and British School together with AIS will battle it out for minor honours.

Good performances are expected from Heshan Unamboowe of Trinity College who established four Sri Lanka records at the recently concluded FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships held in Manchester, London last month and Miniruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International School, Kandy who set a new Sri Lanka record at the same meet.

The other swimmers to watch are Minoka Karunaratne (AIS), Ashan Fernando (St. Joseph’s), Dasun Perera (Royal), Machiko Raheem (Otter AC), Imara Fahim (RAC), Sunethra Wijeratne, Madhavee Weerathunga, Udari Mendis, Dehara Katiperachchi (all of Mahamaya), Chathuri Abeykoon (Ladies College), Methma Jayawardena (Musaeus), Shehani Madawela (Ladies College), Kushan de Silva (S. Thomas’), Yahan Samarajeewa (Royal), Diluka Thibbotumunuwe (Ananda), Issac Prins (British School), K. S. Priyadarshana (Sri Lanka Air Force).

The best in both boys and girls in the under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, under-19, as well as open will be selected and they will be awarded special Trophies.

All age groups will comprise a distance of 50 metres for the four strokes and 200 metres individual medley.

Awarding of points 1st place (10 points), second (7), third (6), fourth (5), fifth (4), sixth (3), seventh (2) and eighth (1) for overall championships.

Last Year, Trinity College and Mahamaya College emerged overall boys and girls champions respectively.

The 2007 Pentathlon Champions: Boys: Under-10 - Shortran Rajapakse (AIS), under-12 - M. Hulangamuwa (Trinity), under-14 - Ali Isphani (AIS), under-16 - Ben Thomson (British School Colombo), under-19 - Ashane Fernando (St. Joseph’s College), Open - C. L. B. Wijeratne (Trinity).

Girls: Under-10 - Rukshali Hapugoda (Mahamaya College), under-12 - Machiko Raheem (Otter AC), under-14 - Gihara Amarasinghe (Southland BV), under-16 - Miniruwani Samarakoon (GISK), under-19 - Chaturi Weragama (Girls High School Kandy), Open - Dumini de Silva (NGS).