Records shattered at International Schools’ athletics

Gateway College did not merely participate at the International Schools Athletic Championships (ISAC) 2026. It delivered excellence on every front hosting the meet for the fourteenth time since its inception in 2001 and Gateway once again demonstrated its capacity to organise a championship of national significance while simultaneously dominating the track and field arena.

Among the individual champions, Ashain Theverapperuma delivered a remarkable triple in the Under 16 category, winning the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres to be crowned Best Under-16 Boys’ Champion and recipient of the Belvoir College International School Challenge Trophy. 

Another standout performer of the meet was Saad Faleel of Gateway College, Kandy. Electrifying in the sprints, he shattered the 100 metres for a new meet record with a blistering 10.44 seconds, claimed Gold in the 200 metres and was crowned Under-20 boys’ Champion. His extraordinary performance earned him the Challenge Cup for Best Male Athlete, the prestigious R.I.T. Alles Challenge Trophy and the Edexcel Challenge Trophy for Best Performer of the Meet. It was a performance that will long be remembered in ISAC history.

Gateway College, Colombo produced a commanding overall display, securing 18 Gold, 19 Silver and 16 Bronze medals. Gateway, Kandy too excelled by winning six Gold, six Silver and three Bronze medals, reaffirming the strength of the Gateway sporting programme.

Nethara Ranasinghe was equally outstanding, securing the Under-18 Girls Championship and the Ilma International School Challenge Trophy after winning the 200 metres, 400 metres and anchoring her relay team to Gold.

The championship witnessed a rewriting of the record books. Six new meet records were established, alongside one equalled record and one performance surpassing a previous mark.

The Under-14 boys’ 4X100 relay team of Sanula Dissanayake, Sethun Perera, Lakdiv Sisirakumar and Methula Palliyaguruge clocked a record 51.23 seconds. Ashain Theverapperuma set a new Under-16 boys 200 metres record of 22.79 seconds. Jaden Edwin equalled the Under-18 boys 100 metres record in 10.98 seconds while Shanuka Costa set a new Under-18 boys’ 200 metres record with 21.68 seconds. 

The Under-18 boys 4X100 metres relay quartet of Silaksha Niwan, Jaden Edwin, Zaid Isthiquar and Shanuka Costa powered to a record 43.16 seconds.

On the girls’ side, Nethara Ranasinghe broke the Under-18 girls 400 metres record with 58.13 seconds while Ranuki Vonara bettered the previous record in the Under-20 girls’ Discus with a throw of 32.92 metres.

Gateway’s medal haul reflected strength across every age group. Nenuka Abeyratne secured Gold in both Shot Putt and Discus. Sanula Dissanayake claimed the Under 14 boys’ 100 metres title, while Bisath Jayakody won Gold in the Under 12 High Jump. For the girls, Luthara Kodikara triumphed in the Under 18 girls 100 metres, Vinali Wickramasinghe won the 100 metres Hurdles, Tiana Gabbalage claimed victory in the Under 14 High Jump and Warsha Wimalasekara secured the Under 20 400 metres title.

Gateway Kandy also produced outstanding middle distance performances, with Sakith Edirisinghe Arachchi winning the Under 18 boys’ 400 metres and 800 metres and anchoring the victorious 4X100 metres relay alongside Ihsan Thowfeek, Thinuka Damyuru and Ranithu Pihiliange. Saeed Faleel added to Kandy’s success with Gold in the Under 14 boys’ 80 metres Hurdles.

The International Schools Athletics Championship was founded by the late Mr. R. I. T. Alles, whose vision was to build camaraderie among international schools while nurturing sporting excellence. Twenty four editions later, that vision continues to inspire.