Sri Lanka Telecom-Mobitel Relay Carnival:

Grand double for Air Force

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club created history as they completed a grand double when they bagged the men’s and the women’s overall title at the Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Relay Carnival 2010 which concluded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Diyagama yesterday.

This was the first time that Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club had emerged overall champions in this prestigious event which was conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel for the fourth successive year.

The Air Force men’s and the women’s team made their presence felt in almost every event as they finished well on top of their closest rivals Sri Lanka Army Sports Club. In fact their women’s team made a clean sweep by winning all six events that gave them the maximum of 60 points.

In addition the Air Force women’s team went on to establish four new Sri Lanka records in the 4X1500m, 4X800m, 4X200m and in the individual medley event. They also set up one Sri Lanka record in the women’s 4X100m event.

Sri Lanka Army Sports Club emerged runners-up while Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club were placed third in the women’s overall championship. The Air Force men’s team also produced an equally good performance as they edged out Sri Lanka Army Sports Club to clinch the overall championship.

The Airmen finished with 44 points and Army SC had to be content with the runners-up position with a total of 41 points. Navy SC were placed third in this event.

Meanwhile Maris Stella College Negombo and A. Ratnayake MMV Walalle put up a fine performance to clinch the boys and the girls overall title respectively. The athletes from Maris Stella College showed a lot of promise as they won the Under 14, 16 and 20 titles to complete a successful tournament.

However they missed out the Under 18 championship which was won by Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa. In addition St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya took the Under 13 championship and St. Benedict’s College Kotahena emerged Under 12 champions.

Meanwhile A. Ratnayake MMV Walalle finished well ahead in the girls overall championship as they underlined their class by winning the Under 16 and Under 18 championship.

They received some stiff opposition from Sumana Balika MV who cliched the Under 18 title and St Lawrence’s College Wellawatte who took the Under 14 championship. In addition Maliyadeva College Kurunegala won the girls Under 13 tournament and Mahamaya College bagged the Under 12 title.