In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Zahira College’s MF Muhammad shattered a longstanding record in the Boys Under-16 100m Breaststroke category at the 48th Sri Lanka Schools’ Aquatic Sports Championships. The five-day event, sponsored by MILO, saw its third day of exhilarating competitions at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool Complex, concluding yesterday.
Muhammad’s exceptional performance was timed at 1:11.13, obliterating the previous record of 1:12.03, which had stood unbroken for over two decades. The previous benchmark was set by Kalyan Veera of Asian International School in 2003.
Adding to the excitement, Jessie Seneviratne of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya showcased her prowess in the Girls Under-18 50m Butterfly final. Seneviratne clinched the gold medal, impressively finishing with a time of 30.25. This achievement not only secured her victory but also erased the prior record of 30.51, set by Hiruni Perera of Harishchandra College Negombo in 2016.
Nabhashie Perera of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya also contributed to the record-breaking spree, triumphing in the Girls Under-20 50m Butterfly final. Perera secured the gold medal with an outstanding time of 30.79, eclipsing the previous record of 31.03, which had been set by Dilrukshi Perera of Hillwood College in 2019.
The battle for supremacy in the championship’s points tables remained fierce. St. Joseph’s College, the reigning Boys Champions, continued their dominance for the third consecutive day with a total of 265 points. St. Peter’s College surged from third place to the second spot with an impressive score of 118 points, closely followed by Royal College at third place with 110 points.
On the girls’ side, Visakha Vidyalaya maintained their position at the summit of the points table in the Girls Championship, amassing an impressive 170 points. A significant shift in the rankings was witnessed as Swimming Powerhouse Mahamaya College Kandy ascended to the second spot with 108 points. Musaeus College secured the third place with 86 points, surpassing yesterday’s second-place holders Gampaha Lyceum and Wattala Lyceum.
Meanwhile, in the Mixed School category, defending champions Wattala Lyceum showcased their prowess by leading for the third consecutive day with a commanding 233 points. Gampaha Lyceum followed suit with 149 points, while Panadura Lyceum and Stafford International School shared the third position with 78 points each.
Sajeewa Jayakody