The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Irappa, Ananthakumar claim honours

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Monday, Jan 24, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Irappa, Ananthakumar claim honours

CHIKMAGALUR, JAN. 23. Belgaum's Irappa D. Akki and Mysore's K. A. Ananthakumar, both employed with MRC (Wellington) but running under the Bagalkot banner, caused a flutter in the men's 12-km and 4-km events respectively in the 39th State cross country championship held amidst the picturesque coffee plantations of Chikmagalur here today.

Both are being coached by former cross country runner and marathoner, L. A. Yalagannavar of South Western Railway, in Bagalkot.

Irappa kept a close watch on pre-event favourite Balakrishna Avalakki (SAI, Bangalore) before breaking away about two-kilometre from the finish to win in a time of 36:58.0. Balakrishna led through the rough terrains, but could not stop the surging Irappa in the straight.

Ananthakumar, Services champion for the last four years, sported a big smile after pipping international Railway star Arun D'Souza to the post. Arun, fresh from his Railways cross country championship where he came second, looked weary as Ananthakumar put in that bit extra at the finish.

Manjula makes amends

L. Manjula made it a one-horse race in the women's longer race in a field of just nine runners. The South Western Railway athlete had a poor run in the Railway meet — it was her maiden event for her employer — and had a point or two to prove here.

The MEG runners swept the team honours in the men's section, winning both the 12-km and 4-km trophies.

The results:

Men: 12 kms: 1. Irappa D. Akki (Bagalkot) 36:58.0s, 2. Balakrishna Avalakki (SAI, B'lore) 37:16.0, 3. Ratheesh (MEG) 37:35.0; 4 kms: 1. K.A. Ananthakumar (Bagalkot) 11:32.1, 2. Arun D'Souza (Chikmagalur) 11:43.6, 3. Shivaprasad (MEG) 11:47.7.

Women: 8 kms: 1. L. Manjula (SAK) 35:40s, 2. Sangeeta Hirehalli (Dharwad) 35:45.3, 3. N.Y. Ashwini (SAI, Madikeri) 36:30.4.

4 kms: 1. Rashmi (Tumkur) 14:30.0, 2. Veena (SH, Mysore) 15:07.0, 3. G.M. Katagavali (Gadag) 16:01s.

Boys: Under-20 (8 kms): 1. K.B. Srinivas (Hassan) 30:07.13, 2. Parmeshwara Raj Urs (Chikmagalur) 30:49.97, 3. Kishore Kumar (Kodagu) 30:55.47.

Girls: Under-20 (6 kms): 1. Devaki (Alvas, DK) 22:25.0, 2. G.L. Sunitha (SH, Mysore) 22:41.0, 3. A. Deepika (Alvas, DK) 23:10.0s.

Team championships: Men: 12 kms: MEG (26 pts), 4 kms: MEG (31), Boys: Under-20: 8 kms: Shimoga DAA (62).

Women: 12 kms: Yuva (Bangalore) 9; 4 kms: Gadag (24); Girls Under-20: 6 kms: Alvas, Dakshina Kannada (9). — Our Sports Reporter

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