De Mel proves his class

Keith de Mel of St. Joseph's College proved his class to set a new meet record in the boys under-16, (200 metres) on the penultimate day of the Junior National Athletic Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

De Mel running on the fourth lane went past the other competitors to time 22.07 secs to beat Dham Madhave of Richmond College 23.18 secs last year. S. S. Bandara of Royal finished second 23.5 secs while Lahiru Happuarachchi also of St. Joseph's College third - 23.6 secs. Bandara and Happuarachchi also bettered the existing record.

In the other events outstation schools athletes dominated, Ruwani Rubasinghe of Matara DAA won the girls under-23 long jump - 5.63 metres, W. K. L. A. Nimali of Hambantota DAA won the girls under-20 - 5000 metres - 18.07.5 secs, the under-23 girls 5000 metres went to Chamara Serepala of Embilipitiya AC - 19.18.9 secs, Chaminda Priyadarshana of Sri Sumangala Central College, Hikkaduwa was the winner in the boys under-20 - 10000 metres - 32.35.1 secs, Nishada Wijerathna of Berrewaerts College, Ampitiya won the boys under-23 - 10000 metres - 32.04.9 secs, W. A. Sulari Madhara of Weeraketiya RC, Hambantota the 400 metres girls under-23 - 1.12.41 secs. The girls under-20 and under-23, 10000 metres Race Walk were won by W. G. I. G. Wijesinghe of Anuradhapura DAA - 1.11.07 secs and Shanika Madurashi of Thalawa MV, Kariyamadiththa - 1.06.20 secs.

(L.F.)