Date:09/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/09/stories/2004120905591800.htm

Sport - Athletics

Ernakulam makes merry

By Our Principal Correspondent

KOCHI, DEC. 8. Kerala's schools athletics capital shifted from Kottayam to Ernakulam in a noisy takeover here on Wednesday evening. The host district, with the bulk of its stars coming from Kothamangalam schools, St. George and Mar Basil, emerged as the overall champion at the State schools meet which concluded at the Nehru Stadium. Kottayam, for years the State's champion team, finished runner-up.

"A big crowd has come from Kothamangalam to celebrate our triumph. It's going to be very noisy here tonight," said Raju Paul, the physical education teacher of Kothamangalam's St. George HSS, which emerged as Kerala's champion school for the first time.

St. George's victory ended the 16-year success saga of Koruthode's CKM HSS which had fuelled Kottayam's success the last few years. Mar Basil (Kothamangalam) finished runner-up in the schools' championship while the Koruthode team was third.

The records: Boys: seniors: V.B. Bineesh (400m hurdles, St. George, Koth., Ekm, 54.40 s, OR 55.40, 2003). F. Sharlin Jose (cross-country, St Jerome HSS, Vellayamkudy, Idk, 13:50 s, OR 14:36.10, 1994). Abhilash Joseph (hammer throw, St George, Koth., 44.38 m, OR 42.43, 2003). Ernakulam (4x400m relay, K.M. Mohammed Naseem, C.S. Manoj, N.A. Aneer, Najas K. Nazar, 3:22.70s, OR 3:23.00).

Sub-junior boys: N.G. Vishnu (Sports Division 100m, Centralised Sports Hostel, Ktm, 11.40 s, OR 11.50, 1987, also equalled National mark).

Girls: seniors: Shameena Jabbar (1,500m, St. Jerome, Vellayamkudy, Idk, 4:46 s, OR 4:47.90, 2003 and cross-country 9:01s, OR 9:44.03, 1994; National record 10:00.30). T.S. Malini (pole-vault, St Mary's GHSS, Pala, Ktm, 2.65 m, OR 2.50, 2003). Anitha Abraham (hammer throw, AM HSS, Kalaketty, Ktm, 35.97 m, OR 35.68, 2001). Kottayam (4x400m relay, Jojimol Joseph, Anju Mathew, Anjusha Mathew, Meenu Maria Jose, 3:59.20 s, OR 4:02.20, 2002). Kannur GVHSS (Sp. Dn 4x100m relay, P.K. Lijina, Semy Sebastian, V. Priyanka, E.R. Rejimol, 49.50s, OR 49.70, 2002).

Overall championship (general schools, inter-district): 1. Ernakulam (313 pts), 2. Kottayam (219), 3. Idukki (82), 4. Kozhikode (77), 5. Palakkad (64). Kerala's champion schools: 1. St George HSS (Kothamangalam, 135 pts), 2. Mar Basil HSS (Kothamangalam, 98), 3. C.K.M., Koruthode (Kottayam, 60).

Overall championship (Sports Division): 1. Govt Vocational HSS, Kannur (215 pts), 2. G.V. Raja, Thiruvananthapuram (166), 3. Calvary Mount HSS Sports Hostel, Idukki (60).

Individual championships (general schools): Boys: seniors: K.M. Mohammed Nazeem (Jai Kerala HSS, Ekm, 11 pts). Juniors: F. Sharlin Jose (St. Jerome, Vellayamkudy, Idk, 11 pts). Sub-juniors: U.N. Ramesh (Mar Basil, Koth., Ekm, 15 pts).

Girls: seniors: Anitha Abraham (AMHSS, Kalaketty, Ktm), Sini Jose (St. George, Koth., Ekm) & Jijimol Jacob (St. George, Koth., all 13 pts). Juniors: Neethu Rajan (SH GHS, Bharananganam, Ktm) & S. Aparna (Mar Basil, Koth., Ekm, both 13 pts). Sub-juniors: Sreeja Sreekumar (St. Mary's GHSS, Pala, Ktm, 9 pts).

Individual championships (sports division): Boys: seniors: P.V. Ajesh (GVR, Tvm) & N.P. Vinu (SAI, Klm, both 10 pts each). Juniors: P.K. Anoop (SAI, Tsr) & Raja Oommen (GVR, Tvm, both 13 pts). Sub-juniors: Vishnu Chandran (Centralised Sports Hostel, Ktm, 13 pts).