Keerthiraj, Vandana triumph

Shishira emerges winner in the women's 5 km

Keerthiraj and Vandana emerged winners in the 10km cross country race organised by the Chikkamagaluru Golf Club and Legacy Appreciate Life, Bengaluru, here on Sunday.

In a race that was organised to create awareness on conservation of Western Ghats, Keerthiraj, a painter, clocked 41:54 to clinch the first spot in the men’s category. The 19-year-old finished ahead of Rudrappa (42:15) and Abhishek Sangameshwarpete (44:12). Rudrappa, a student of Sringeri First Grade College, braved a severe pain in his leg to complete the race and bag the second place.

In the women’s category, Vandana finished first in 59 minutes and 41 seconds.
Vandana, a B.PEd student at Shankaraghatta, had represented Karnataka in the inter-university athletic meet and national-level cross country races.

Priyanka Mallesh (1:07.15) and HJ Ganavi (1:11.09) finished second and third respectively. In the women’s 5km race, Shishira Gowda won the first place in 31 minutes and 40 seconds. Sudha Bhat (34.46) and Shansi (37.35) settled for second and third positions respectively.

The top three received cash prizes of Rs 15,000, 10,000 and 5,000 respectively.  The 62-year-old Puttaveeraraj Urs in the men’s category and the 72-year-old Lekha Chandrashekar in the women’s category drew attention with their spirited performances.

Results: 10km: Men: Keerthiraj (41:54), 1; Rudrappa (42.15), 2; Abhishek Sangmameshwarpete (44.12), 3.

Women: 10km: Vandana (59:41), 1; Priyanka Mallesh (1:07.15), 2; HJ Ganavi (1:11.09), 3.
5km: Shishira Gowda (31:40), 1; Sudha Bhat (34.46), 2; Shansi (37.35), 3.