Ranjeeth, Sanjeevani win top laurels in all India inter-university cross country meet

MOODBIDRI: India's rural athletic talent came to the fore in the all India inter-university cross country championship for men and women hosted by Mangalore University here on Sunday.
Long distance runner Ranjeeth Kumar Patel from Nasik representing the host university and Sanjeevani Baburao Jadhav from Savitribai Phule University, also from Nasik and a Gwangju World University Games participant brought forth their experience to take home the title.
Ranjeeth's timing of 38:54.95min while fetching him the gold also ensured that he became the first athlete from any university in South India to take home this coveted yellow metal. Gavit Murli of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat finished second with time of 39:17.30 and Ranjeeth's team mate Abhishek Pal bagged the bronze with an effort of 39:26.97. Both Ranjeeth and Abhishek are students of Alva's College that co-organised the event.
Sanjeevani, who finished sixth in 10-km race in the World University Games at Gwangju paced the 6-km race beautifully to take home with gold with a time of 22:12.22 minutes. Phoolan Pal, sister of Abhishek, representing Mangalore Univeristy ensured that family silverware expanded that much more with her time of 22:56.04 minutes fetching her the silver. Manju Yadav of Panjabi University, Patiala bagged the bronze with her effort of 23:08.59 minutes.
Vijendra Singh, SAI coach at Nasik who spotted both Ranjeeth and Sanjeevani said the duo are cut out for higher glory. 'I'am certain that Ranjeeth and Sanjeevani can bring laurels for India in the World University Cross Country meet at Italy in March next," he told TOI adding efforts will be made to provide them with high altitude training facility. "I have requested Dr Mohan Alva of Alva's Education Foundation, a great sports lover to facilitate the same," he said.
Minister for youth empowerment and sports K Abhayachandra Jain, Rakesh Gupta, Association of India Universities observer for the meet, K Amarnath Shetty, former minister, Roopa Santhosh Shetty, president, Moodbidri Town Municipality, K Byrappa, vice-chancellor, Mangalore University, K Vaidyanathan, and V Mahadevan, directors of sports of S R M University and University of Madras distributed prizes to the winners on this occasion.
Results: Women: 6-km: 1. Sanjeevani Baburao Jadhav, Savitribai Phule University 22:12.22; 2. Phoolan Pal, Mangalore University, 22:56.04; 3. Manju Yadav, Panjabi University, 23:08.59; 4. Jyothi Chouhan, RTM Nagpur Univeristy, 23:17.42; 5. Supreetha B K, Mangalore University, 23:30.59; and 6. Varsha Devi, Kurukshetra University, 23:36.15.
Men: 12-km: 1. Ranjeeth Kumar Patel, Mangalore Univeristy, 38:54.95; 2. Gavit Murli, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, 39:17.30; 3. Abhishek Pal, Mangalore University, 39:26.97; 4. Ranjit Kumar, Punjab University, Chandigarh, 29:47.28; 5. Rajkumar Singh, Mangalore University, 39:49.76; and 6. Siju C P, Mangalore Univeristy, 40:03.74.
Team championship: Men: 1. Mangalore Univeristy, 15 pts 2. M D University, Rohtak, 137 pts 3. Punjabi University, Patiala, 154 pts and 4. University of Delhi, Delhi, 340 pts
Women: 1. Punjabi University, Patiala 38 pts 2. Mangalore University, 49 pts 3. Calicut University, Calicut, 57 pts; and 4. Savitribai Phule University, Pune 81 pts