Prelude to Olympics

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Less than a week left for the high-action London Olympics, it seems the whole world is singing up to the mother of all sporting events.

And, down here, it’s a fascinating feeling to watch even a state athletic meet transcend to a better level of competition, with better performances, just as the countdown for the Olympics has begun.

As you observe the spark in the young athletes in the state inter-club athletics championship held at the Maharaja's College tracks in Kochi, it seems you are looking at future Olympians. Like, we expect Usain Bolt to breach the (yet another) lightning barrier and Michael Phelps to create that golden splash, athletes in the lower stratum do expectantly give their best shot every year.

When 11 meet records were shattered in the first two days of the humble meet in Kochi, it was, at least to a fantasy loving sports enthusiast, a true prelude to the biggest event set to begin in London on Friday.

Here are some of the results of the sprint events.

Girls

Under-14, 100 m: 1. Sneha K. (Usha School), 13.29 sec; 2. Rugmaudhayan (Youngsters Club, Chittur), 13.35 sec; 3. Arya Liyan (St. Thomas, Erattayar), 14 sec

Under-16, 100 m: 1. Sneha Roy (Mar Basil), 13.21 sec; 2. Viny P. V. (Mundur HSS), 13.37; 3. Raveena Edison (Trivandrum Athletics), 13.45 sec

Under-18, 100 m: 1. Rengitha C. (SAI, Thalassery), 12.51 sec; 2. Anju P. M. (Parli HSS), 12.62 sec; 3. Pooja T. M. (Kalladi HSS, Kumaramputhur), 13.11 sec

Under-18, 100m hurdles: 1. Merlin P. (SAI, Thrissur), 14.82 sec; 2. Jais Rani Sebastian (Centralised Sports Hostel, Kottayam), 15.68 sec; 3. Elizabeth Antony (Kalladi HSS), 15.87 sec

Under-20, 100m hurdles: 1. Adheena P. G. (Centralised Sports Hostel, Kollam), 15 sec; 2. Tinu Jacob (LNCPE), 15.39 sec; 3. Aswini K. S. (Centralised Sports Hostel, Kollam), 15.44 sec

Boys

Under-14, 100 m: 1. Amjad Mohamed (Nava Mukunda Sports Academy), 12.45 sec; 2. Alan S. (SAI, Thrissur), 12.51 sec; 3. Vyshakh P. M. (Edavanakad Athletics Club), 12.76 sec
Under-18, 100 m: 1. Jeris Jose (KCA Mission Gold), 11.2 sec; 2. Likhin S. (Ideal HSS, Kadakassery), 11.28 sec; 3. Rafeeq K. K. (SAI, Thrissur), 11.35 sec

Under-18, 110 m hurdles: 1. Nasimudheen M. N. (St. George’s HSS), 14.68 sec; 2. Arjun Gangadhar (SAI, Kozhikode), 14.81 sec; 3. Jishad E. P. (Professionals Sports Academy, Tavanur), 14.93 sec

Under-20, 110 m hurdles: 1. Akhil Johnson (SAI, Kozhikode), 14.76 sec; 2. Arjun H. (Olympic Athletic Club), 15.02 sec; 3. Aneesh Rahman E. (Centralised Sports Hostel, Kottayam), 15.2 sec