Olympian Manjula Kumara was named as the best athlete in the track and field events for his record breaking performance in the men’s high jump event at the 36th National Sports Festival concluded at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy today.
The Asian Championships gold medalist representing Southern Province shattered the current sports festival high jump record with an effort of 2.18 metres. This performance overcame the previous record of 2.13 metres held by A. D. N. P. Ratnasiri of Western Province in 2006 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Chandrika Rasnayake of North Western Province was named best athlete in the women’s category for her splendid performances where she made a clean sweep winning four gold medals in the women’s 200 metres, 400 metres, 4X100 metres relay and 4X400 metres relay events.
The final day also produced another new meet record with N. M. C. Dilrukshi of North Western Province clocking 4.29.5 seconds in the women’s 1500 metres final to erase the previous record of 4.33.53 seconds held by D. A.S. Samanmalee (North WesternProvince) in 2008. In addition Manjula Wijeratne of Sabaragamuwa Province set up a new Sports Festival record by lifting 138 kg in the over 105 kg snatch category on the final day of the weight lifting championships.
The results:
Women’s 10,000 metres: (1) B. G. L. Anuradhi (Central) 36.54.80 sec, Men’s 5000 metres: (1) Sujith Kumara (Central) 15.11.55 sec, Women’s high jump: (1) A. T. Vinodani (Southern) 1.72 metres, Women’s 400 metres: (1) C. S. Rasnayake (North Western) 54.17 sec, Men’s 400 metres: (1) P. S. Amarasekera (Uva) 47.97 sec, Women’s shot put: (1) K. Fernando (Western) 13.31 metres, Men’s pole vault: (1) C. Senaratne (North Western) 4.40 metres, Men’s triple jump: (1) C. Gamage (North Western) 15.62 metres, Women’s 100 metres hurdles: (1) S. Dayananda (Sabaragamuwa) 14.86 sec, Men’s
1500 metres: (1) A. C. Wijesinghe (North Western) 4.02.39 sec, Women’s 1500 metres:(1) N. M. C. Dilrukshi (North Western) 4.29.5 sec, Men’s 100 metres: (1) B. R. A. Hasaranga (Eastern) 10.9 sec, Women’s 100 metres: (1) C. Priyadarshani (Western) 12.4 sec, Men’s 4X400 metres: (1) Sabaragamuwa 3.16 sec,