by Reemus Fernando
Ratnayaka Central, Walala won the girls’ overall title by a margin of 23 points and Maris Stella College, Negombo returned to winning ways after a lapse of several years to clinch an overall boys’ title in an athletics event as the three-day Relay Carnival concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Monday.
As expected, the athletics stronghold of Walala dominated middle and long distance relays and Maris Stella bagged the gold medals in sprint events including two age category 4×400 metres relays during the final session on the final day to beat their closest rivals Trinity by 35 points.
For Trinity too, the boys’ runner up title was their first an all-island athletics championship in many years.
For the third consecutive day, Ratnayake Central’s Asian Junior Championships medallists Tharushi Karunaratne and Shehan Dilranga continued to dazzle as they anchored the Under 20 girls’ and boys’ 4×400 metrs relays to victory.
The Under 16 relay quartert of Sesath Ranthisa, Dilanka Devinda, Dineth Sandeepana and Sahas Fonseka won Maris Stella the 4×400 metres relay, while Arosh Shakya, Tishan Nethmina, Chanuka Vithana and Mark Roshen combined to clinch the gold in the Under 18 boys’ 4×400 metres relay as their school enjoyed trophy success at national level after five years.
In a rare feat Ratnayake Central won all six relays from 4×100 metres to long distance medley in the Under 20 girls’ category. Karunaratne, who has secured a place in the national team for several international events played a key role in their success.
Ratnayake Cental were a little unlucky in the boys’ category as a dropped batton in the medley relay cost them a possible overall boys’ runner up title.