Janith Jenkins of St. Sylvester’s College stole the limelight on the penultimate day of the junior national athletic championship, which continued at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama yesterday.
The promising athlete showcased his talent and potential by claiming the Boys’ Under-18 triple jump event with a record-breaking performance of 15.55 metres.
Earlier, upcoming young athlete, Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central College established a new meet record in the Boys’ 400m hurdles.
Akalanka shattered his own record of 52.53s by clocking 50.20s in the Boys’ Under-20 400m hurdles.
Meanwhile, Shalomi Jayakody of Taxila National College, Horana and Dilki Karunarathna of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo also established new records.
Shalomi set up a new record while competing in the Under-18 Girls’ hammer throw (3kg) event with a distance of 40.81m while Dilki produced a record-breaking performance of 12.68m in the Under-16 Girls’ shot put (3kg).
Shalomi bettered the previous hammer throw record of 36.79m set by Yuthara Jayaweera of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda in 2023 while Dilki shattered her own shot put record of 11.96m set in 2024.
Nearly 1,500 athletes from four age groups are participating in the Junior National Athletic Championship, which is conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics.
This meet will also serve as a selection trial for the Asian Youth Games from October 22 to 31 in Bahrain.
New meet records
Under-23 Men’s 200m – 21.34s Indusara Vidushan (Track Masters SC). Under-20 Men’s 200m – 21.23s Idupa Silva (Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte). Under-20 Men’s 400m hurdle – 50.20s Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa CC).
Under-20 Men’s 3000m 8:32s – Ilango Vikirthan (Poovarasankulam MV, Vavuniya). Under-18 Boys’ 110m hurdle 14.08s Pawan Ekanayaka (Dharmapala, Pannipitiya). Under-18 Boys’ triple jump 15.50m – Janith Jenkins (St. Sylvester’s). Under-16 Boys’ 100m hurdles (heats) 13.52s – Wenudaya De Silva (Mahinda). Under-16 Boys’ hammer throw 40.68m S. M. Karunarathne (Taxila Central). Under-16 Boys’ 300m hurdles 39.73 – W. N. E. Silva (St. Mary’s, Chilaw). Under-16 Boys’ 100m hurdles 13.17s – W. D. N. D. Fernando (St. Mary’s, Chilaw). Under-23 Girls’ 400m hurdles 1:00.41s – L. G. A. Sathsarani (Air Force). Under-20 Girls’ pole vault 3.40m Selvarasa Nirusika (Arunodaya College, Alaveddy). Under-18 Girls’ 200m 24.45s Dhananjana Fernando (Lyceum, Wattala). Under-18 Girls’ high jump 1.74m Mihinsa Abeyrathna (Presidents College, Ratnapura). Under-18 Girls’ triple jump 12.44m Dilki Nehara (Sri Sumangala BMV, Panadura). Under-18 Girls’ hammer throw 40.81m Shalomi Jayakodi (Taxila CC). Under-16 Girls’ long jump 5.96m Dilni Rajapaksha (Lyceum, Wattala). Under-16 Girls’ shot put 12.7m Dilki Karunarathne (Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo). Under-16 Girls’ 300m hurdle 45.99s G. R. Dharmadasa (St.Joseph’s Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle). Under-16 Girls’ 100m hurdle 15.31s Lakshya Sandali (Royal International, Kurunegala).
