The 'Parkside Ranger' Who Ran Marathons
Turning 81 years today, S.L.B. Rosa holds the National Record in the Men's 10,000m that is yet to be broken since 1975, and the only Sri Lankan to finish 4th at the Boston Marathon
Did you know that the 10000m from all of the Sri Lankan Athletics records is the only one that has not been broken since 1975? In fact, since 1966, the record has been held and renewed by Seppulliyage Lucian Benedict Rosa, often known as SLB Rosa!
From Ampara to Wisconsin
Born on a day like this in 1944, he found his love for Athletics as a student at Ampitiya Roman Catholic School and after joining the Army, he pursued long distance running. He first came into the limelight when he beat the reigning national champion Ranatunga Karunananda in the 500m in 1965.
Having won two Bronze medals in the 1966 Asian Games in the 5000m and 10000m, he won the double Gold in the same events in 1970 in the Bangkok edition, becoming the Asian Record holder back then, and running barefoot!
This allowed him to gain a scholarship at the University of Wisconsin, which allowed him to compete in colder temperatures and started to make a name for himself competing in the NCAA and other well known Marathons.
National Records and Achievements
As already mentioned, he has been the undisputed 10,000m record holder since 1966 although the records say it is since 1975, the last time he renewed his own record. For 59 years, no Sri Lankan has broken this which makes it the longest standing athletics record in the country.
He also came 4th place at the Boston Marathon in 1974, another outstanding achievement as no Sri Lankan has ever achieved a place this high in a premier Marathon event. His national record in marathon running stood for almost 30 years till Anuradha Indrajith Cooray broke this in 2015.
The Montreal Boycotting
He had the distinction of being the flag bearer of the 1972 Olympics contingent, the first time Ceylon went as Sri Lanka but was denied to compete in the 1976 Olympics which was a very controversial incident that is widely believed to have deprived an Olympic medal after many countries boycotted the Montreal Olympics.
However, the controversy is that the Sri Lankan flag was hoisted when the countries who boycotted didn't have their flags hoisted. Quoting from the source, this incident was described as "a tale of politics and unscrupulous officials combining to preempt sport and diminish the career of a remarkable athlete."
Rosa was already among the top Marathon runners, ranked 11th in the world but the raising of the Sri Lankan flag scarred him for life, as he could have been an Olympic medalist with many of the top athletes not participating from countries who boycotted, and didn't hoist a flag.
His Legacy as a Parkside Ranger
Not only did he run for the Parkside Rangers he also became their Athletics coach till 2017. He was also inducted as a Hall of Famer in the University and also has a Cross Country event by his name- the Lucian Rosa Invitational (the only Sri Lankan Athlete to have an event named after them outside of Sri Lanka).
Remembered for his remarkable achievements as a long distance runner and a coach, here's to wishing a forgotten great in Sri Lankan athletics on his 81st birthday.