Joes to maintain momentum

The St Joseph’s College is poised to extend its remarkable winning streak as the 48th MILO Schools All Island Age Groups Aquatic Championships kick off today at the Sugathadasa Aquatic Complex. The event, proudly sponsored by MILO for an impressive 29th consecutive year.

St Joseph’s College, celebrated for its swimming prowess, has maintained an unbroken victory record nearly two decades. The Darly Road School swimming team, under the guidance of coach Ruwan Manawadu, has clinched the championship title for an impressive 17 years.

“From 2004 onward, we have secured the championship for the past 17 years,” noted Coach Manawadu. The years 2020 and 2021 saw a pause in the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges. Coach Manawadu shared that the team triumphed in both the pentathlon tournament and the Age Group Championships, setting high expectations for this year’s competition. St Joseph’s College will field a formidable team of 66 swimmers who will participate in a total of 83 events, including 71 individual events and 12 relay events. As the coach emphasized, the team’s participation spans across all 83 events, reflecting their comprehensive approach. “We have two national-level best swimmers for each age group,” stated Coach Manawadu, who completes 33 years in coaching the Joes swimming team.

Amidst the intense rivalry, defending Girls Overall Champions Visakha Vidyalaya are set to face a robust challenge from Musaeus College, fresh off their victory in the recently concluded Pentathlon Swimming Championships. The Mixed School category is defended by Wattala Lyceum International School, who hold the championship title. The Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association conducted event promises a captivating five-day showcase of aquatic prowess, featuring over 5,000 swimmers from more than 200 schools across the country.

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