Boosted by the prospect of the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe to be held in Andorra, the 2005 Eurosport Adidas Malta Championships (14/15 May) were among the most successful in the history of the sport on the island.
Perhaps the most eye catching achievement was that of Darren Gilford who set a new record of 10.54 in the 100m.
Gilford - along with Nikolai Portelli, Rashid Chouhal and Mario Bonello - also formed part of the 4x100m relay team that also set a new best of 40.94. Following a series of experiments with different athletes, coach Leandros Calleja finally found the right combination and the training programme undertaken in recent months paid off with a series of smooth changeovers.
Calleja also had the satisfaction of watching the female 4x100m setting a new national record of 47.59. It was the second time in three weeks that the foursome made up of Lara Scerri, Therese Mallia, Charlene Attard and Diane Borg (all teenagers) had broken the national record.
As expected Lisa Marie Bezzina won the women’s 800m (2:15.69) but the most impressive result in this race was the win registered by young Marylin Schembri whose final time meant that she bettered both the Junior and the Youth records.
One of the most hard fought contests was the women’s 400m where 0.3 of a second separated the first three. Lara Scerri managed to win in 57.39, setting a new Junior record. She was followed by Martina Xuereb (57.40) with Dian Borg (57.69) third.
Over the two days of the event, there were also three further championship records: Nikolai Portelli in the 400m (48.98), Jean Paul Callus in the Javelin Throw (55.43m) and Rashid Chouhal in the Long Jump (7.63m)
On the same weekend of the championships, Maltese athletics was also boosted by Carol Galea’s success in Portugal at the European Veteran’s Non-Stadia Championship when she won the 10,000m.
Paul Grech for the IAAF
