Indians steal the show at half marathon

Indian duo Karthik Kumar and Sanjeevani Jadhav stole the limelight, as they claimed the Men's and Women's championships of the 21kilometre half marathon held yesterday conducted to coincide the 100th anniversary of Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA). The two Indian long distance runners stood out from the rest of among over 250 runners, which included 15 participants from four South Asian nations -- India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal -- as they took slightly over an hour to finish the course.

Kumar won the Men's segment in 1 hour and 05.02 minutes as he became the first to cross the line that covered 21 kilometres from Diyatha Uyana and back. The 21kilometre half marathon set off from Diyatha Uyana near Battaramulla at 6.00am and completed in the same vicinity after going through a course covering Etul Kotte, Pitakotte, Pagoda Road passing Nugegoda Super Market towards High Level Road, from where it ran towards Pan ni pi ti ya passing Maharagama. From there the runners turned towards Borella Road to Th a law a thu god a and Battaramulla before reaching the finishing line.

Kumar' s com patriot Dharmender was the second to cross the finish line two minutes and 15 seconds behind while Shanmuge Shawaram, who represented the Kandy District Athletic Association, gave the Indian a close battle for the second position. Yet, he had to finish third just by 0.13 seconds.

The winner of the Women's segment, Jadhav, spent 1 hour and 16.06 minutes to complete the run, well ahead of the rest in her category. The second to finish among women was M. S. P. M. Perera from Sri Lanka Navy, clocking one hour and 19.48 minutes while

Sri Lanka Army's H.M.C.S. Herath finished at third 1 minute and 54 seconds behind.