Maltese athletes take part in European Team Championships Second Division

Athletics Malta came away from the European Team Championships Second Division, the highest-ever contested since its present format from a decade ago, bruised, but with head held high.

The final team result meant that, after the promotion won in Malta in 2017, two years hence our athletes will be battling it out alongside other GSSE title contenders Cyprus and Luxembourg, along with Malta relegated from the competition in Croatia.

Together to face again Bosnia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and formidable Serbia and Moldova among others.

In Varazdin over last week-end, Malta pulled together as a team, much to the satisfaction of the Association, encouraging the youngsters present to give of their best, as did the more established athletes.

The latter demonstrated what participation at these high levels spell out, in their efforts establishing two National Records, in the Hurdles.

To these prestigious marks must be mentioned a host of personal and seasonal bests registered at this only occasion where Malta competes with a full, or nearly full, complement.

The selectors set a reasonable goal, that of obtaining 100 points overall. The fact that no contestants were entered in both the High Jump and the Pole Vault – the MAAA’s Achilles Heel meant that the final tally came to 96 points, in which situation one can conclude that the target was indeed reached.

This Second Division witnessed athletes like Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic, posting a European lead throw of 68.58m in the discus – a Championship Record. Bob Bertemes, (Luxembourg) heaving the shot to 21.62m also gave credence to the high level of the competition, to mention just these two achievements.

Moreover, an analysis of the Maltese showing and points hypothetically won within the Third Division, would have placed Malta in 5th place, among a complement 13-strong.

Meanwhile the National Records established in Varazdin were those by Marilyn Grech in the 400m Hurdles, who set the new mark at 1 minute 4.72 seconds; and that by Daniel Saliba, who in the 110m hurdles established a new time of 15.52 seconds.

Highest Maltese placing in the individual events was that recorded in the 3000m steeplechase by Monalisa Camilleri, who finished 5th among the 12 contestants.

Other mid-table results were those recorded by Charlotte Wingfield (200m), Claire Azzopardi and Ian Paul Grech (both in Long Jump) and Janet Richard in the 400m.