Three meet records on final day

by Leslie FERNANDO

ATHLETICS: Charith Kapukotuwa of Royal College, R.M.S.G. Ratnayake of Sri Lanka Army and R.D.A. Wishwanali of Sri Lanka Navy performed well to establish three new meet records at the Junior Athletic Championships conducted by Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

Wishwanali accounted for the first record in the girls under-23 - 10,000 metres Race Walk with a time of 1.00:32.6 secs to erase the previous record of A.M. Indra Priyadarshani of Detagamuwa MV, Moneragala 1.05.42.2 secs.

Kapukotuwa was responsible for the second record - boys under-20 discus throw with a distance of 51.93 metres and erased his own record of 47.85 metres.

Ratnayake set the third record in the boys under-23, 400 metres clocking 45.05 secs to best his own record of 48.08 secs.

Gimhani Jayathilake of Sumana BV, Ratnapura was selected as the best women hurdler of the meet returning a good time of 65.43 secs in the 400 metres girls under-18. Meanwhile M.G.K. Sandaruwan of Sri Lanka Air Force was the best long jumper of the meet with a fine leap of 6.89 metres in the boys under-20 category.

According to Saman Kumara, recorder of AASL four athletes reached the entry standard for the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships to be held in Italy from July 8 to 12. The athletes to qualify are Y.G.C.N. Wijesinghe (boys 300 metres) of A. Ratnayake Central College, Walala, S.R.J.P. Senanayake, St. Joseph's BV, Kegalle (200 metres girls), I.K.D. Madushan and K.G.C.M. Jayasekera (boys 400 metres) both from A. Ratnayake Central College, Walala.

Athletic Association of Sri Lanka will decide on the athletes to participate at the Italy, World Youth Championships.