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by BERNARD PERERA reporting from Kekirawa

Airman K. C. Wasantha and M. A. Chandrawathi from Wilachchiya, Anuradhapura carried away the Dinamina/Nestomalt Marathon titles yesterday. The event which was conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka had a run over a distance of 21 kilometres from Dambulla to Kekirawa on the main road.

Wasantha who is coached by Sarath Galagoda finished the race with a time of 1 hour 11 minutes and 04 seconds, Wasantha who was trailing behind Maithri Dawson from Matale and Nimal Vijitha Bandara from Kegalle for nearly fifteen kilometres was seen closing up the gap from this stage and managed to get very well closer to the leader at the 17th kilometre mark and got past the two leaders after completing 19 kilometres. From then onward he kept on increasing his lead until the finish. Nimal Vijitha Bandara who was running well slowed down close to the finish line giving way to Maithri Dawson to finish as first runner-up with a time of 1.11:29, while Vijitha Bandara had a time of 1.11:34. M. A. Chandrawathi of Wilachchiya, Anuradhapura was a clear winner in the women's category when she clocked 1.24:45 to finish the event, which too, was conducted along with the men's event.

Chandrawathi who was placed within the first five placings in the Nestomalt/Dinamina Marathon on many occasions, was the happiest lass on this day. Chandrawathi got off to a flying start and kept on moving along with the men's first bunch for about ten kilometres was well ahead of the other competitors. This lead was too much for the following two experienced competitors W. A. Mallika Chandrakanthi of Police and Manjula Kumarasinghe of Gampaha who clocked 1.26:55 and 1.28:38 respectively.

For these two winners, it was a happy day as it was their first wins achieved at Dinamina/Nestomalt Marathon.

The event which attracted over 1,200 runners was a big success for organisers and sponsors, Nestle Lanka Ltd., media sponsors Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and the organisers of the event, Athletic Association of Sri Lanka headed by National athletic coach Lakshman de Alwis. The Police officers of the two Police divisions Kandy and Anuradhapura headed by DIGs Nimal Mediwaka and Ananda Jayasekera need a special bouquet for a job well done.

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