Musaeus reigns supreme at National Lifesaving Championship

MOUNT LAVINIA: (ePRESS) – Musaeus College secured the coveted title at the 73rd National Lifesaving Championship for the second consecutive year, cementing their dominance in the sport. The championship, organized by Sri Lanka Lifesaving, concluded on Saturday evening at the Lifesaving Centre at Mount Lavinia Beach, with Musaeus College finishing top of the heap with a total of 502 points.

The 15-member team, captained by Sinali Rajapaksha, held their ground throughout the two-day event, outperforming their rivals in both pool and beach events. Sri Lanka Air Force came in as runners-up with 371 points, while River Life Saving Club claimed third place with 363 points.

The women’s national competition saw intense competition from seven teams. Bishop’s College (327 points), Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Movement (265), Miracle Aquatic Sports and Lifesaving Club (94), and Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda (45) rounded out the top six teams.

The event kicked off with pool events at the Sri Jayewardenepura University Swimming Pool Complex, where Musaeus College athletes displayed exceptional performance and teamwork, bagging numerous top finishes.

In the 50m manikin carry, Musaeus’ Vinuki Perera secured the first place, while Sandali Sumathipala finished in second. The 100m Rescue Medley saw another strong performance from Perera, who claimed first place, while Sumathipala finished third.

One of the highlights of the competition was the 100m Four Women Rescue event, where Musaeus College clinched the gold medal with a stellar performance by Vinara Palihakkara, Dinuli Fernando, Chanumi Siyathra, and Kamashi Ranabahu. The 4x25m Manikin Relay was another triumph for Musaeus, with Thisathmi Kanuwanaarachchi, Sandali Sumathipala, Vinuki Perera, and Oneli Ranaweera securing first place.

In the beach events, Musaeus College athletes continued to dominate. Sanuli Ranaweera led the way in the 90m Beach Sprint, finishing first, while Methmi Ukwattage claimed third. Thenushi Kalawitigoda proved her prowess by winning the Board Race and the Ocean Women event, further adding to Musaeus College’s gold medal tally.

The 90mx4 Beach Relay, in which Chanumi Siyathra, Methmi Ukwattage, Sanuli Ranaweera, and Dinuli Fernando shone, saw the Musaeus team bagging yet another first-place finish.

Musaeus College’s comprehensive victory highlights the strength of their squad and their commitment to excellence in lifesaving sports. Captain Sinali Rajapaksha’s leadership and the dedication of the entire team were pivotal to their back-to-back success.