Monday 3rd October, 2011 15 Ruwina achieves personal best to win Colombo Marathon

BY REEMUS FERNANDO the first six places in the men’s category. It was the first time that Deepani produced a uwina Deepani returned a time of 2:57.28 sec- time below three hours. “I was alone after the 21st onds, her personal best to win the women’s kilometre. I found the route harder under my feet Rcategory of the Colombo Marathon in its and the weather punishing, but managed to keep a 11th edition, which concluded at Negombo on good phase to win. I am quite happy about my per- Sunday, while the Kenyans made a clean sweep of formance,” Deepani told ‘The Island’ in a telephone BY JOHN PYE interview, on Sunday. it with 22-year-old , who has gone Incidentally, it was Ruwina’s first major on as a replacement in five of his six test mach- marathon title after trailing her senior counter- , (AP) — A long es to date, and was drafted into the 30-man parts at several National Marathons. While dark cloud descended over New Zealand on squad. defending champion of the Colombo Sunday after it emerged that had The 100-test coach said the All Blacks need- Marathon and the National champion been ruled out of the . ed to “show strength,” both to support Carter Manjula Kumari pulled out after the Talk of Cup curses started immediately and to move on in the tournament in his halfway mark, Anuradhi after All Blacks coach told a absence. Bogahawatte (3:09.50 sec) finished news conference that Carter, his superstar fly- “The group is obviously very shattered with second. Nilani Priyadharshani half, would take no further part in the tourna- this news, but they are also a very resilient (3:11.35) was placed third. ment because of a serious groin injury sus- group of people focussed on doing this job Prasanna Perera, tained during kicking practice late Saturday. right,” Henry said. “We need to move on as Deepani’s coach said that Carter has scored an international record well. We have been dealt the cards we have got her performance has 1,250 test points and is the best No. 10 in world and it is very important that we play them given new hopes and it rugby.The lack of an understudy for the 29- superbly.” was a result of hard work. He said that the year-old pivot has long been seen as the Achilles The All Blacks aren’t the only squad with athlete could now tar- heel of the All Blacks’ World Cup campaign. injury concerns, although even Frans Steyn’s get a time of 2:50.00 The worst fears of a New Zealand public tournament-ending shoulder injury isn’t as dis- seconds and she now desperate to end a World Cup drought have ruptive for the defending champion Springboks needs a much faster been realized. as Carter’s absence is for the All Blacks. international Winger scored four of New South Africa drafted in Zane Kirchner on marathon for her to Zealand’s 12 tries in a 79-15 win over Canada Sunday to replace Steyn, and he’ll join up with achieve that mark. later Sunday, but failed to seize the Springboks in this week “If we get a chance his moment hours after becoming the All to prepare for the quarterfinals. to take part in the Blacks first-choice No. 10 for the pres- Australia extended its already Hong Kong sured knockout rounds. long injury list when Drew Marathon, that The 23-year-old Slade started for Mitchell damaged his hamstring would be great,” only the fourth time in his nine-test in the 68-22 win over Russia at Perera said. career and had a reasonable game Nelson on Saturday, while Kenyan Jeofry directing the backline for the first 50 France is suffering from hurt Brieon won the men’s minutes but was off-target with the pride after its 19-14 loss to Tonga event in a time of boot. had a more con- at Wellington. 2:27.08 seconds, while Ruwina Deepani structive game when he went on as The Australians called in Kelum Dharmaratne (Pic by Gamini No. 10. winger Lachie Turner clocked 2:37.46 seconds Munasingha) to win seventh place. New Zealand will meet and backrower Matt 2007 semifinalist Hodgson into the 30- in the quarter- man Cup squad finals after the Pumas Sunday to replace All-Island Schools Sports Festival – Athletics Championships overcame a 7-5 half- injured Drew time deficit to Mitchell and beat a deter- Wycliff Palu. mined England Randeniya continues Georgia rallied to lineup edge old in the rival record breaking spree first of Sunday’s 16-12 with four match- a Chris BY REEMUS FERNANDO the Isle of Man. There he was the only male athlete from Sri Lanka to feature in a final. His final is es. The Ashton scheduled for today where he could aim for a better Pumas fin- try three Hurdling prodigy Supun Viraj Randeniya performance. ished second minutes proved his calibre as a future Sri Lanka prospect Talking about Randeniya’s performance, in Pool B behind from full- once again, as he shattered the longstanding Udaya Kumara of Prince College, Ratnapura, who unbeaten England. time in schools record of Mahesh Perera with a time of was placed second behind Randeniya in the heats, With six of the quarter- Saturday’s last 14.41 seconds in the Under-19 110 metre hurdles, on said that it was a fantastic performance. “He is in final berths filled, the last match and will the second and penultimate day of the All-Island terrific form. You need something very special if two group matches will meet France in the Schools Sports Festival’s Athletics Championships, you are going to beat him,” said Kumara, who was decide the rest: Wales vs. quarterfinals. is being held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa competing in the hurdles after establishing a , and Italy vs. Ireland. France should International Stadium at Diyagama, on Sunday. record in the long jump on day two. New Zealand was already have been wiped out Randeniya, who was denied the opportunity of Gateway International athlete Nadeeshani taking part in the IAAF World Youth assured of a quarterfinal on the scoreboard, Henderson lowered the mark (56.79sec) held by spot, and had no real diffi- but Tonga bombed Championship, despite achieving the qualifying Chandrika Subashini, clocking 56.09 seconds to win culty against the Canadians numerous try-scoring standard at last year’s edition of this champi- the Under-19 400 metres heats. With St. Joseph’s despite the absence of chances and usually onship, produced the feat in the heats. The athlete, Balika athlete Kumari Ratnayake, who won a silver Carter. reliable kicker Kurt coached by Lakshman Hapuarachchi, lowered medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games recently, Perera’s mark of 14.46 seconds, which remained also featuring in the final today, it is likely to be a “It’s a tragic situation for Morath made only five of for 19 long years. Mahesh Perera, representing St. dual between them. a highly talented young nine shots at goal. Even so, Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya established that Royal Institute athlete Sanjuna Sumanaweera sportsman,” Henry said. “This Morath set up Tonga’s try, record in 1992. won the gold in the Under-19 boys’ shot putt (06kg) was his scene really; a World his crosskick taken on the The hurdler from Ranabima Royal College, with a new record of 13.88 metres. Cup in New Zealand and it bounce by winger Suka Peradeniya, now has to his credit the hurdles In the Under-17 girls’ discus throw, Kaveeda was going to be his big occa- Hufanga in the right corner. records of both the Under-17 and Under-19 age cate- Kumari of Galewela Central threw a distance of sion.” France claimed the one bonus gories at these championships. Randeniya estab- 37.22 metres to establish a new record. The injury occurred point it needed deep in injury time lished the Under-17 record at the same meet at the Meanwhile, Ananda College sprinter Arosh only hours after Carter when Vincent Clerc scored in the same Sugathadasa Stadium last year. Kariyawasam ran to his second record of the meet had been asked to captain right corner. However, Randeniya’s mark was below his per- when he clocked 11.51 seconds in the Under-15 100 New Zealand for the first “We played really bad rugby,” France sonal best of 14.06 seconds, which was achieved at metres heats, in the afternoon. time in his 84-test captain said. “If we play the recently held Commonwealth Youth Games in Today is the final day of the competition. career in the absence of like this next week we’re not going to have any Richie McCaw, who was chance of making the semifinals.” ruled out of Sunday’s New Zealand beats match against Canada New Zealand All Blacks Daniel Carter makes a break with the recurrence of during their Rugby World Cup game against England at Canada 79-15 a foot injury. , Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 24, BY STEVE MCMORRAN Henry also has to 2011. The All Blacks’ worst fears were realized when fly- decide whether to go WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — half Dan Carter was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with Winger Zac Guildford scored four of New with Slade at No. a groin injury Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. All Blacks coach Zealand’s 12 tries in a 79-15 win over Canada 10, play Weepu out Graham Henry told a news conference that Carter would of his preferred on Sunday, while Colin Slade failed to seize take no further part in the tournament because of a serious his moment hours after becoming the All scrumhalf posi- Blacks’ first-choice No. 10 for the pressured tion or to chance injury sustained during kicking practice on Saturday Oct. 1. knockout rounds of the Rugby World Cup. (AP Photo/Ross Land) Slade stepped into a glaring spotlight after being nominated by coach Graham Henry as New Zealand’s flyhalf-elect to replace Daniel Carter, who has been forced out of the tournament with a groin injury. The 23-year-old Slade started for only the fourth time in his nine-test career and in what, in normal circumstances, might have been low-key match and a moderate test of Nethmi Waduge wins his temperament and ability. New Zealand had already qualified for the quarterfinals and its win over Canada clinched a 4-0 sweep of its Pool A. plum at Hilton Tennis Gala But Slade’s performance came under New Zealand All Blacks much closer scrutiny as New Zealanders BY REVATA S. SILVA scores a try during their Rugby World grappled with the knowledge that Carter, the Residence hard court in Colombo, on Sunday, Oct. Cup game against Canada, Sunday, Oct. cornerstone of its World Cup campaign and Nethmi Waduge clinched the Women’s Singles 2. 2, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand the leading pointscorer in international title beating Shanelle Abeysekara, 6-0, 6-3 in the The over two-week long tournament came to an (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa) rugby, will take no further part in the tour- final of the Hilton Tennis Gala at Hilton Colombo end Sunday. nament.