Six new records at Southern athletics

by Priyan de Silva

Shehan Lakshitha and WKLA Nimalie both representing the Hambantota district were adjudged the best athletes (men and women) at the Southern Province athletics meet held at the Uyanwatta Stadium Matara.

Six new Southern Province records were established while two were equalled at this year's meet.

In the men's events Shehan Lakshitha established a new Southern Province record of 2.04 metres in the high jump erasing the 2.01metre mark set by BRIU Kumara (Galle district) in 2014.

Isuru Abeynayake (Galle) equalled the 15.20-second record set by V G Nuwan Tharanga (Hambantota) in the 110 metres hurdle event in 2004 while Rohana Sisira Kumara of Hambantota district threw the hammer a distance of 43.75 metres to write his name in the record books.

In the women's events Nimalie set a new Southern Province record of 2:09.60 in the 800 metres to better the 2:10.00 time established by Mangala Priyadarshani in 2006.

Ishani Anushka of Hambantota district set a new distance of 28.60 metres for the hammer throw while Ishara Madhawi of Galle improved on her own record of 2.16 metres in the pole vault set in 2014 by vaulting a height of 2.17 metres this year.

The women's 4x400 relay team from Hambantota district comprising R Nadeesha, Shama Dulani, WPER Dulakshi and WKLA Nimalie set a new record with a time of 3:55.6 erasing the 3:57.5 mark established by Matara district in 2005.

Nimalie equalled her own record time of 56.5 seconds in the 400 metres which she set in 2013.

Galle district accumulated 83 points to win the men's athletics championship while Hambantota district won the women's championship by accumulating 94 points.

Southern Province's Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Weerasumana Weerasinghe was the chief guest at the awards ceremony.