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Sarath beats all foreign competitors to
win International Marathon Sarath Gamage outclassed foreign competitors to the inaugural International Marathon with an impressive timing of 2 hours 22.22 seconds at Galle yesterday. Sarath, a soldier by profession showed early promise of annexing this title from the word ‘go’. He led the bad field after passing 1 km and then extended his lead, never looking back. He enjoyed a clear lead at the turning point at Hikkaduwa but relaxed at the closing stages. H. A. Amith Lal sensing a slight chance quickened his pace to catch up on Sarath. But Sarath who was placed second runner-up at the recently concluded International Marathon in Singapore 5.18 minutes ahead of first runner-up. D. Gamini Dissanayake who too had joined in the pursuit of the title gave a fine run to Amith to finish third clocking 2: 28.20 seconds. The only foreigner to impress was Germany’s Joachim Weight who finished 34th. Speaking to ‘The Island’ he said that this was his 25th marathon. "I was placed 400 in the Frankfurt marathon where over 10,000 participated. But this is my best result and if not for the humidity I would have finished long before," he said. Meanwhile, in the women’s full marathon, W. Chandra Kanthi of Kegalle with a timing of 3 hours 01.31 seconds cruised to the first place. Coached by K. Lionel Perera she had won 5 Nestomalt marathons, 4 mini marathons and was placed third at the National Sports Festival marathon. Running bearfoot with a heap of plasters on her toes she said I was badly let down by the Sports Minister. "I requested Minister Dissanayake for a pair of running shoes at the Tholangamuwa Presidential Mobile Service which he promised to give but this promise was never kept, she said. This request personally was made in writing six months ago to the minister. The standard of the so called international runners was at a very low ebb with some deciding to break away at the half way stage. Tilak Weerasinghe, one of the organizers, attributed this for the event being conducted for the first time. "We are not in a position to offer prize money to attract top runners, "he explained. He added that with more publicity next year’s race would attract better international runners. The event which saw 40 foreigners and over 250 local competitors was organised by Lanka Sportsmen, and assisted by Australasia Nestle Lanka Ltd, Airlanka, Southern Provincial Council and Amateur Athletic Association. Many observers point out that at least the SAF countries should have been invited to add glamour to this event as the AAA too is involved. Neville Kanakaratne, Governor, Southern Province, was the chief guest and gave away the awards. Bandula Egodage, National Sales Manager Nestle Lanka Ltd. also graced the occasion. Results • Open Marathon (Men) (1) Sarath Gamage (army) 2 hrs. 22.22 sec. (2) H. A. Amith Lal (Army) 2:27.40 sec. (3) D. Gamini Dissanayake (Army) 2:28.20 sec. (4) A. K. Dayaratne (Army) 2:32.07 sec. (5) K. A. Pushpa Kumara (Army) 2:32.25 sec. (6) D. M. Prasanna (Army) 2:33.37 sec. • Women (1) W. Mallika Chandra Kanthi (Kegalle) 3:01.31 sec. (2) M. A. Chandrawathie (Anuradhapura) 3:14.46 sec. (3) Tharanga Shamali (Central SC Madampe) 3:24.56 sec. (4) Nadeeka N. Kumari (Moratuwa) 3:45.00 sec. • Half Marathon (Boys) (1) Sujeeva Chandrapala (Kandy) 1:27.59. (2) K. Udaya Kumara (Udupussellawa) 1:29.32 sec. (3) K. C. Wasantha (Rathgama) 1:30.32 sec. • Girls (1) S. H. de Silva (Army) 1:10.37 sec. (2) W. M. Irene (Kegalle AAA) 1:12.24 sec. (3) K. Surangani Chandima (Madampe) 1:12.41 sec. Under
23 cricket final Singhalese Sports Club spurred on by their pace trio of Ruchira Perera who returned figures of (3/64), and supported well by Dilhara Fernando (3/68), and Sri Lanka cap Tilan Samaraweera (3/41) recorded an innings and 95 run win over Colombo Cricket Club in the under-23 cricket final which ended at SSC grounds yesterday. CCC who began their second essay having to make another 227 runs more to avert an innings defeat found survival on the last day a difficult proposition except for the two solid knocks of 61 and 77 compiled by opener D. Hunukumbura and skipper Bradman Ediriweera respectively. These two batsmen who came together with their team score at 9 for 2 extended their stand to 115 runs before parting in the pre-lunch session. Hunukumbura’s 61 which came off in 116 balls was spiced with 8 boundaries, while Ediriweera’s top score of 77 came off 110 balls was studded with 12 fours. Besides these two batsmen none of the others could trouble the scorers. As SSC’s pace spearhead by Ruchira Perera with a match bag of (9/86) destroyed CCC for a second time with the hosts returning home for tea being worthy winners of the Under 23 championship tournament. SSC by virtue of their deserving innings win pocketed a cash price of Rs. 100,000 with the costing CCC side gaining Rs. 75,000 for their efforts in this tournament. Chief scores: CCC 52 and 225 all out. (Damitha Hunukumbura 61, Bradman Ediriweera 77, Hemantha Botheju 26, Ruchira Perera 3/64, Dilhara Fernando 3/68, Tilan Samaraweera 3/41) SSC 372. (J.K) Kevin Lafaber former Raddoluwa skipper left for Australia to play club cricket. He will play for Springwell Cricket Club in Melbourne this season. Lafaber a top class batsman during his school days was chosen to lead the Gampaha District Schools team against England Under 19 team in 1994. He was also a member of the Sri Lanka Schools team that faced England in 1994. The same year he toured India with the Sri Lanka Schools team. Sri Lankan netballers beat India 57-15 Sri Lanka has maintained a fine record at the ongoing Youth Asian Netball Championships in New Delhi, India. On Sunday they beat India 57-15 In their first round matches the Lankan netballers beat Hongkong 60-13 and Maldives 76-27. Today they meet Singapore in another first round match. Raddoluwa MV take honours in drawn game The inter-school cricket fixture between Maliyadeva College and Raddoluwa MV ended in a draw at Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala on Saturday. Raddolowa MV took major honours in this game. They made 250/8 and declared on the first day. Maliyadeva were shot out for 135 in their first essay and were forced to follow on. Here too they were in trouble and were struggling at 17 for 5 wickets. The sixth wicket held on grimly to hold them to a draw. At close Maliyadeva were 58/5. Scores: Raddoluwa MV. 250/8 decl. (S. Arangalla 37, D. Ranatunga 25, N. Pannilawithana 40, T. Rowell 22, N. Gunetilleke 40 n.o., D. Hettiarachchi 33 n.o. B. Ellepola 2/43, T. N. C. Bandara 2/57, G. Hameen 2/25). Maliyadeva MV. 135 (Y. Abeygunawardane 28, T. B. Yatawara 20, T. N. C. Bandara 20, S. Arangalla 2/26, N. Gunatilleke 5/26) and 58/5 (L. Premaratne 20 n.o., S. Paaris 2/4, Oshan Silva 3/10). Tamil Union registered an easy first innings win over B.R.C. in their Division II cricket match concluded at Havelock Park yesterday. Chief scores Tamil Union 327/9 wkts dec, and 44/4 at close. (Sagara Kumara 38, Gayan Wijekoon 64, Rally Tisera 46, N. Weeraman 41, N. Samarawickrama 59 n.o., Chamikara Mudalige 3/94, K. Gunawardana 2/51) B.R.C. 218 all out (A. Wanigasekara 40, M. Hettiarachchi 60, A. Wijekoon 4/39, S. Kumara 3/34, N. Samarawickrama 2/39) (J.K) |
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