The State bags a record 18th title at national athletics meet

Kerala underlined its prowess yet again by claiming the overall championship title for a record 18{+t}{+h}time as the 60{+t}{+h}National Schools Athletic Meet concluded at the Birsa Munda stadium, Ranchi, on Friday.

The champion side was way ahead of its rivals in the points tally, totalling 206 points with a haul of 36 gold medals, 28 silver and 24 bronze medals. Though it was unable to match its gold medal haul of last year (38), at the same venue, several individual performances firmed up the State’s supremacy all through the five-day meet.

Tamil Nadu stood second in the final count with a haul of 8-20-11 and a tally of 80 points, a clear ten points ahead of Maharashtra (13-7-10).

Usha’s protégé

It was a meet to remember for Jisna Mathew, a trainee of track legend P.T. Usha, who helped herself to a golden treble in the junior girls’ section. Jisna was unbeaten in all the three sprint events – 100m, 200m and 400m. She was adjudged the best athlete in her category.

Golden double

In the sub-junior section, the corresponding honour was won by P.D. Anjali who took silver in the 100m and 200m and the gold medal in the 400m relay.

P.R. Alisha and M.V. Varsha finished with a golden double in the senior section. Alisha took the top spot in the 1500m and 3000m, while Varsha found little challenge in the 5000m and the cross country race.

Among boys, P. Mohammed Afsal, who trains under P.G. Manoj at Parli HSS, Palakkad, was for a third consecutive year the best performer in the boys’ section. Afsal, competing in his last National schools meet, also finished with a golden double by winning the 800m and 1500m titles in the senior section.