In addition to cricket and soccer which were introduced to Wesley in 1897, reference has been made that athletics too was introduced during that year. However there were no references made regarding Athletics until 1940, when it was recorded in a school report that the performances of athletics was improving.In the early days of Wesley, the hostellers distinguished themselves in athletics since the hostel known as the Boarding House was the fourth along with the other three houses in the school system.
With the arrival of Rev. James Cartman in 1945, sports at Wesley began to show improvement. Until then from the prize reports that were available the overall performances of athletics at Wesley was reported to be average.
It was in 1946 that Wesley’s athletics performance was rewarded, when they were placed third in the Public Schools meet for the Tarbat Challenge Cup. The most outstanding athlete was M.M. Sheriff who went on to break College records. He was awarded Public School Colours for his performances. Quoting from an article written by Mr. Alfie David on how he grew up at Wesley in the 1950’s mentioned “Ihad to wear an ordinary blue blazer and not the College blazer. The “golden era” of athletics was in the late Forties and early fifties, prior to my entry to Wesley when there were athletes of the calibre of M. A. M. Sheriff , T. Van Rooyen. They were National Champions while in school. Sheriff proceeded to the USA along with my wife’s uncle Archie Singham and won a Harvard blue in athletics. He later joined the Sri Lanka Overseas Service and served for a few years as a Diplomat”.
The photograph below is a historic picture of the Ceylon’s first Independence day where brilliant athletes from that era were chosen to represent the four communities to bring four scrolls to Independence Square to be handed over to the Prime Minister Mr. D.S. Senanayake.
The athletes in the picture from left to right were Duncan White, Lakshman Kadirigamar (Sri Lanka’s finest Foreign Affairs Ministers ever), Oscar Wijesinghe and Wesley’s M.A.M. Sheriff. It was a few months later Duncan White went on to win the Silver Medal at the Olympics in London.
Then there was the burly Norman De La Harpe who also who went on to represent Ceylon in the high jump at the Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1953.
With the limited records available since the 1950’s unearthing information on athletics has been an upheaval task but with the help of a few old boys, I managed to trace a few names of outstanding athletes who shone for Wesley. Names that came to mind were Dr. Shanti McLelland, Richard Ebell, Rohan Amerasinghe, the Edema brothers Patrick and Anton, Jayantha Wickremeratne and the colourful M.C.A. Cader.
Although there were many students who had the full potential of turning out to be brilliant athletes of Wesley, for some reason Athletics at Wesley never got the needed prominence to bring out the best and hence students showed a lack of interest to take to athletics.
From time to time in the 70’s Wesley did produce a few outstanding athletes. Names that come to mind were O.K. Jyantha, Dale Van Heer, Jeremy Brohier, Peter Peiris, GayanSeneratne, Beverly Wambeck, Riza Mohomed all of whom who went on to represent Wesley at Public schools level. Then there was Shammy Ranjendra, Shan Jurangpathy, Rambo Kukendran to name a few that come to mind that represented Wesley at Colombo North meets and all island relay carnivals.
The College Athletics Team in the late 60’s.
From time to time in the 70’s Wesley did produce a few outstanding athletes. Names that come to mind were O.K. Jyantha, Dale Van Heer, Jeremy Brohier, Peter Peiris, GayanSeneratne, Beverly Wambeck, Riza Mohomed all of whom who went on to represent Wesley at Public schools level. Then there was Shammy Ranjendra, Shan Jurangpathy, Rambo Kukendran to name a few that come to mind that represented Wesley at Colombo North meets and all island relay carnivals.
Outstanding athletes in the 80’saccording to the records in the Double Blue magazine of 1978 to 1985 were Ravi Hettiarachchi, H. Fernando and Navin De Silva. Other names mentioned were R.Senanayake, D. Bandupriya, and M.F. Kamaldeen.
Athletics at Wesley after the turn of the millennium in 2000 had seen gradual decline according to the athletics report given in the Double Blue Magazine of 2000 to 2004. There are no references of outstanding athletes representing Wesley at Public Schools or any other all island competitions. Over the years there seemed to be a vacuum of good athletes representing Wesley at Public school meets. Unfortunatelythe Double Blue Magazine of 2005 to 2008 is devoid of an athletics report, which suggests that there were no outstanding athletes produced by Wesley.
However information on how athletics fared at Wesley since 1986 is referred for the readers attention which was thankfully given by the current Head of Sports at Wesley, Shiraz Jaldeen..
1986
The Exuberant Athletic Team of Wesley College continued to excel, led by Captain Rizan Hamidon and Vice-Captain M. N Halaldeen. The Annual Challenge Shields and Awards for the year were declared to followings athletes of College,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – K. Bombugalage Cross Country Challenge Shield – Hillard House Best Performance (Track Events) – S.M De Silva Best Performance (Field Events) – Dishan Kohomban Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) -Hillard House
1987
The Athletes of College were proudly Captained by M. M. Halaldeen and Vice Captained by M. J. Sherifdeen. The Annual Challenge Shields and Awards for the year were declared to followings athletes of College,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – M. J Sherifdeen Cross Country Challenge Shield – Passmore House Best Performance (Track Events) – D. K. Nissanka / Rizan Hamidon Best Performance (Field Events) – A. D. C. S Perera Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) – Passmore House
1988
Captain – S. D. G. P Wickermaratne and Vice-Captain – M. R. Noordeen ensured to uphold the astounding standards of College Athletics. The Annual Challenge Shields and Awards for the year were declared to followings athletes of College,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – C. Y. Devanath Cross Country Challenge Shield – Hillard House Best Performance (Track Events) – U. R. S Perera Best Performance (Field Events) – A. D. C. S Perera Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) – Passmore House
1990
The College Athletic Teams continued to excel, partaking in a variety of Meets organized, The Team was led by U. Seneviratne and Assisted by the Vice-Captain M. Rupasinghe. The Declaration of the Annual Challenge Shields and Awards were,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – C. Y. Devanath Cross Country Challenge Shield – Passmore House Best Performance (Track Events) – K. W. Musafer Best Performance (Field Events) – S. Karunaratne Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) – Hillard House
1991
The Athletics Team continues to maintain the standards and ensure a continuity in this sport,
Captain – H. Rupasinghe Cross Country Challenge Cup – C. Y. Devanath Cross Country Challenge Shield – Passmore House Best Performance (Track Events) – S. Abeynayake Best Performance (Field Events) – S. Karunaratne Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) – Hillard House
1992
The notable Athletic Team of Wesley College continued to excel, led by Captain – C. P. Bombugalage and Vice-Captain M. S. Karunaratne under the Coach – Mr. M. N. Angunawala. The Annual Challenge Shields and Awards for the year were declared to followings athletes of College,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – S. Wilson Cross Country Challenge Shield – Passmore House Best Performance (Track Events) – S. Karunaratne Best Performance (Field Events) – M. M. A Weerabangsa Champion House (Juniors) – Honter House Champion House (Seniors) – Passmore House
1993
The College Athletic Team continued to excel, partaking in a variety of Meets organized, The Team was led by S. Karunaratne and Assisted by the Vice-Captain K. W. Musafer. The Declaration of the Annual Challenge Shields and Awards were,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – N. Rupasinghe Cross Country Challenge Shield – Passmore House Best Performance (Track Events) – G. H. Norton Best Performance (Field Events) – V. Pathiraja / A. Weerabangsa Champion House (Juniors) – Honter House Champion House (Seniors) – Passmore House
1994
The Athletic Team Captain – K. W. Musafer under Coach – Mr. Sunil Gunawardane. The Declaration of the Annual Challenge Shields and Awards were,
Cross Country Challenge Cup – R. Johnson Cross Country Challenge Shield – Hillard House Best Performance (Track Events) – RukshanAsela / S. Subanandan Best Performance (Field Events) – M. F Sanoon Champion House (Juniors) – Honter House Champion House (Seniors) – Moscrop House
1995
Captain – H. Ananda Vice-Captain – N. U. Gnanasunderam Coach – Mr. Sunil Gunawardane. Challenge Shield and Awards;
Cross Country Challenge Cup – R. Johnson Cross Country Challenge Shield – Hillard House Best Performance (Track Events) – S. Subanandan Best Performance (Field Events) – N. Wijesundara Champion House (Juniors) – Lemphers / Honter House Champion House (Seniors) – Hillard House
2000
Cross Country Challenge Shield – Adrian Boulton Best Performance (Track Events) – GayanKarunathilaka Best Performance (Field Events) –RaveenJayatissa Champion House (Juniors) –Dias House Champion House (Seniors) –Wilkin House
2001
Cross Country Challenge Shield –RiyazRazik Best Performance (Track Events) – AmilaSubasingha Best Performance (Field Events) – DhanushkaNavarathna Champion House (Juniors) – Dias House Champion House (Seniors) – Wilkin House
2002
Cross Country Challenge Shield – Dinesh Alawathugoda Best Performance (Track Events) – ZakirBadhurdeen Best Performance (Field Events) – RakithSugathadasa Champion House (Juniors) – Mack House Champion House (Seniors) – Hillard House
2003
Cross Country Challenge Shield – D. K. Raja Sharmilan Best Performance (Track Events) – Nuwan Kulasekara Best Performance (Field Events) – TyronneHarisson Champion House (Juniors) – Dias House Champion House (Seniors) – Wilkin House
2004
Cross Country Challenge Shield – Kasun De Silva Best Performance (Track Events) – NiranjanWickramartathna Best Performance (Field Events) – Henry Terrance Champion House (Juniors) – Dias House Champion House (Seniors) – Passmore House
2014
The College Athletics team were able to recruit new talent at the Annual Sports Meet and continued to take part in Private and Public Meets.
2015
Long Distance Runner S. Sathiyaraj took part in the National Marathon and was Placed 37th out of 700 Runners. Furthermore, he was also placed 7th out of the 400 athletes in a 10km event.
2016
For the first time in the traceable past. 43 Athletes took part in the District Competitions held. Additionally, 10 athletes reached the qualifying time in the All Island John Tarbet Cup.
2017
The College Athletics team continued to excel and reach the qualifying time in a number of private and public meets.
2018
The College witnessed potential athletes at the Annual Sports Meet and continued to partake in Public / National Meets
2019
3 Junior Athletes and 3 Relay teams of different age groups qualified to compete in the John Tarbet Competitions.
2022
15 Senior Athletes took part in the John Tarbet Meet