Four new meet records

by Leslie FERNANDO

Outstation athletes were prominent establishing four new meet records out of five on the penultimate day of the five day All-Island Schools Games conducted by the Ministry of Education and held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

M. Udara Silva of Maris Stella College accounted for the first record in the boys under-21 high jump going over the bar in perfectly to clear a height of 2.08 metres. Udara broke the record by point 01 which was earlier held by Derrick Rohan Raju of St. Anne's College, Kurunegala of 2.07 metres in 2003. D. A. H. Wijesinghe of St. Joseph's Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle went over the hurdle smoothly to win the 100 metres girls under-21 hurdle event 'clocking' 14.83 secs. B. G. L. Maduwanthi of Sumana BV, Ratnapura held the previous record of 14.86 secs. in 2004. In the girls under-17 triple jump event Isuru Nilaweera of St. Mary's Convent, Matara was responsible for third record with a jump of 11.29 metres. Harshani Wijesinghe of St. Joseph's BV, Kegalle was the 2006 record holder 11.22 metres.

The fourth record came from Amanthi Oshadee Silva of St. Bridget's Convent in the girls under-15 Shot Putt Amanthi threw the iron ball to a record distance of 10.10 metres to erase off the mark jointly held by Tharika Kumudumali Fernando of Good Shepherd Convent, Panadura and Tiluni Menaka of Saripuththa Maha Vidyalaya, Pamburana 9.41 metres in the year 2004 and 2007 respectively.

Joseph Vas College, Wennappuwa and A. Ratnayake MMV, Walala were in front in the Boys and Girls overall points respectively.

In the boys overall A Ratnayake MMV and Rajasinghe MMV, Hanwella were placed second and third. Sumana MV, Ratnapura and St. Joseph's BV, Kegalle took the second and third positions.

Today the meet will continue at 7.00 a.m. starting off with boys and girls half marathon events followed by 14 more events to be worked off before the distribution of main awards around 4.30 a.m.