Hosts MA College dominate athletics on the opening day

Kochi: Seven records were set in athletics on the opening day of the 11th College Games at the Mar Athanasius College Ground, Kothamangalam on Saturday.
Sidharth AK of hosts MA College and Divya Mohan of St Peter’s College, Kolencherry won the men and women’s pole vault respectively by breaking existing records. Sidharth cleared 4.61m to win among men while Divya cleared 3.50m in the women’s event.medals Megha Mariyam Mathew, representing Christ College, Irinjalakuda, won the women’s shot put with a record effort of 12.48m.
Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad duo Thoufeera CP and Sidharth KC made a clean sweep of the discus throw event. Sidharth won the men’s division with a record throw of 46.80m while Thoufeera also set a new mark of 39.36 to win the women’s event.
MA College’s Anoop Valsan set a record in the men’s javelin throw with an effort of 65.68m while his teammate Kessia Mariyam Benny won the women’s hammer throw with a record effort of 51.14m.
With three gold and three silver medals in their bag, hosts MA College lead the standing in athletics with 24 points while Christ College are second with seven points.
SN, MES win in football
In football, SN College, Kannur edged hosts Maharaja’s College 3-2 at the Maharaja’s College Ground in Kochi. Nihal (45+2, 69) had scored a brace for the hosta, but Akshay (52), Sourav (60) and Mohammed Mirash (90) scored to help SN College advance to the next round. MES College, Mampad thrashed University College, Thiruvananthapuram 3-1 in another match.
Assumption College, Changanassery will face Providence College, Kozhikode in the semifinals of women’s basketball while St Joseph’s College, Irinjalakuda will take on winners of the quarterfinal between Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram and St Xavier’s College, Aluva.