Igneshwaran and Gayani Chandrika win Sports Festival Marathon Races

by Wehelle PIYATHILAKA Maharagama Special Corr.

SPORTS FESTIVAL: Kandy's Igneshwaran and Ratnapura's P. D. Gayani Chandrika won the men's and women's marathon races held recently in Kurunegala Town. These races were organised by the National Youth Services Council in collaboration with the National Youth Sports Festival.

There were around 200 sportsmen and sportswomen from 25 districts who participated in the marathon races.

These competitors who participated in the All Island Marathon races were from competitors who were selected from Divisional, District and Provincial level meets held earlier.

In the men's race P. Igneshwaran of Kandy had a winning time of 2 hours 51 minutes 58 seconds while in the shorter women's race P.D. Gayani Dharshika of Ratnapura was timed at 1 hour 30 minutes 33 seconds.

There were ten competitors from each race who were picked to rewarded at the 22nd National Youth Sports Festival to be held at the Duriappah Stadium in Jaffna in October.

MARATHON (Men): 1. P. Igneshwaran (Kandy), 2. Dinesh Tharanga 3. C.M.S.P. Chandrasekara (Puttalam). 4. Indika Dinesh Kodikara, 5. D. Ratneshwaran (Nuwara-Eliya), 6. Samath Buddhika (Nivitigala), 7. Nadeesha Sampath (Hambantota), 8. H.A.N.S. Lankathilake (Kurunegala), 9. R. Prasthan (Kilinochchi), 10. M.M. Priyantha Manchanayake (Kurunegala).

MARATHON (Women):1. P.D. Gayani Chandrika (Ratnapura), 2. L.A. Anurawathie (Moneragala), 3. A. Yasodha (Batticaloa), 4. P. Krisanthi (Moneragala), 5. V. Krishanthini (Nuwara - Eliya), 6. T.V.I. Bandara (Anuradhapura), 7. S. B. Kalyani Kumari (Matara), 8. B. M. Priyangika Basnayake (Nuwara-Eliya) 9. K. W. Kaneshana Sandalanka (Badulla), 10. T. G. Chandralatha (Ratnapura).