National Championships come to an end

Swimming

The swimming season came to an end last week with the National Swimming Championships held over 4 evenings at the TalQroqq Sports Complex. Swimmers taking part in these Championships qualified after obtaining the required times during the season.

The majority of swimmers improved their Personal Best times and a number of National and Age Group Records were broken by Maltese Swimmers.

Sophia Allen (Sliema ASC) established a new Age Group A Record with a time of 40.98 in the 50m Breaststroke. The record of 41.46 was previously held by Haley Pawley Neame (Berlin - December 2016).

Dylan Cachia (Neptunes WPSC) improved his National Record in the 800m Freestyle Timed Final with a time of 8:39.20. Previously, his time was 8:39.85 and was achieved a week before in Kazan, Russia during the LEN Junior European Championships.

Rudi Spiteri (Sirens ASC) swam the first leg of the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay and established a new Age Group D Record with a time of 24.23. Previously, the record of 24.24 was held by Matthew Zammit (United Kingdom - April 2012).

Andrea Mallia (Sirens ASC) improved the Age Group D record in the 200m Breaststroke with a time of 2:22.87. The previous record of 2:24.48 was also held by Andrea and was achieved a week before in Kazan, Russia during the LEN Junior European Championships.

Thomas Woods (Neptunes WPSC) swam the 400m Individual Medley and established a new Age Group C record with a time of 5:08.38. The previous record of 5:11.15 was also held by Thomas (Gzira – April 2019).

In the same event, 400m Individual Medley, Sean Allen Gatt (Sirens ASC) swam a time of 4:58.68 establishing the Age Group D Record. This record was vacant with a standard time of 5:01.13. “Our Home Is Water” Caine Schembri (San Giljan SWE) established a new Age Group A Record in the 50m Breaststroke Final with a time of 40.11. The previous record of 40.55 was held by Philip Caruana Baldacchino (Gzira – December 2009).

At the end of the National Championships, the awards for the Swimming League to Individual swimmers and the Club Aggregate Shield were presented. The Swimming League takes into account the swimmers’ best results obtained during the Age Group Time Trials held between October and June and the International Easter Meet. The Top Male and Female Swimmers were determined in three age groups - Junior, Cadet and Open. An Aggregate Shield for the Top Club was also awarded.

Female Cadets Category (aged 15 and younger during the year the Season ends) Sasha Gatt representing Marsaxlokk ASC with a total of 6,211 FINA points from 11 events.

Female Junior Category (aged 16 and 17 during the year the Season ends) Leah Tanti representing Sirens ASC with a total of 4,586 FINA points from 8 events.

Female Open Category (aged 18 and over during the year the Season ends) Michee Van Rooyen representing Sirens ASC with a total of 2,740 FINA points from 4 events.

Male Cadets Category (aged 16 and younger during the year the Season ends) Luke Sullivan representing Sliema ASC with a total of 5,385 FINA points from 11 events.

Male Junior Category (aged 17 and 18 during the year the Season ends) Dylan Cachia representing Neptunes WPSC with a total of 5,044 FINA points from 8 events.

Male Open Category (aged 19 and over during the year the Season ends) Harry Stacey representing San Giljan SW Elite with a total of 2,979 FINA points from 4 events.

Finally, the Club Aggregate Shield with points from all swimmers in all events was awarded to Sirens ASC with 104 points. Neptunes WPSC and Sliema ASC finished in joint 2nd, with 76 points and Marsaxlokk ASC finished In 4th Place, with 38 points.

At the end of the competition, for the first time, the National Swimming Championships Club Trophy was awarded based on results obtained during these Championships. Points were awarded to the swimmers finishing in the top 8 positions in the individual events.

This Trophy was won by Sliema ASC with 992 points, followed by Sirens ASC with 959 points and Neptunes WPSC in 3rd place with 817 points.