The win of Maris Stella College, Negombo at the Athletics Championship of the Western Province Schools Games came as a surprise. With Lyceum International fielding as many as eight junior national champions in the girls’ category, it was a inevitable assumption that they would win the overall girls’ championship. But Maris Stella’s overall boys’ title triumph was out of the blues.
Where did Maris Stella Win?
Maris Stella is in the possession of one of the best pole vaulters to arise from the school circuit in Thushen Silva. The Junior National champion and National Junior record holder had to pull out from the competition even without challenging his teammates due to an injury. Pole vault is an event Maris Stella had been dominating at these championships. The status quo continued so thanks to the efforts of Rahima Hasthika and Nimuthu Oshada who both cleared 3.60 metres to share the first place in the Under 20 event.
The triumphs in the Under 20 age category and back to back sprint triumphs by Dulneth Fernando (60m – 1st, 100m – 2nd) in the Under 14 age category stood in good stead for Maris Stella.
While Roshen Fernandopulle won the 400m hurdles, their sprint quartet dominated the 4x100m and 4x400m relays in the Under 20 age category.
In a close contest they edged out Lyceum by 16 points.
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