Fine performances heighten Maltese expectations

Athletics has come a long way since Gerald Degaetano battled the sweltering heat to clinch a bronze medal in the 10,000m in Cyprus in 1989.

That was Malta's first ever medal won in athletics in the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Two years later, Degaetano improved on his performance in the same event and notched a silver medal in Andorra. However, Malta had to wait until 1997 to claim its first gold medal in athletics when Carol Galea soldiered on to claim the 5,000m.

Two years ago in San Marino, athletics took centre stage when Tanya Blake won the 800m and established a new Games' record.

Galea landed two silver medals in the 5,000 and 10,000m while sprinters Mario Bonello and Rashid Chouhal won silver medals in the sprint events.

It was indeed Malta's best ever performance at the Games as the contingent returned with a haul of 14 medals, including two gold and eight silver.

To date, Malta has obtained 41 medals (three gold, 15 silver and 23 bronze) in athletics in all editions of the GSSE even though no athletes participated in the 1985 Games in San Marino in any track or field events.

The stage is set for Maltese athletes to repeat the success they achieved two years ago. All the athletes competing at the Games have achieved the minimum qualifying standard set by the MOC.

Blake should again grab the limelight after her excellent showing in the 800m a few days ago in the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix in Oregon. Blake clocked just under two minutes (1:59.56) to register one of the leading times in Europe.

The Los Angeles-based athlete will be running in the 400, 800, 1,500m and will also form part of the quartet eyeing a medal in the 4x 400m relay.

Sprinters Chouhal and Bonello have both been undergoing intensive training programmes abroad.

Chouhal was in Canada while Bonello trained in Italy. Both athletes will be seeking to topple the Cypriots who have established a stronghold in the sprint events at the Games.

This will definitely be a difficult task as Cyprus have two excellent athletes in the likes of Markoullides and Katsantonis. The former won the gold medal at the last edition of the Mediterranean Games in Tunis and was a semi-finalist at the Sydney Olympic Games in the 100m.

Katsantonis is a 200m specialist who qualified for the final in the European Championship. These two athletes have their sights set on gold in Malta.

Old and new faces will mingle in the Maltese team. For athletes like Bonello and Deirdre Farrugia, these Games have now become an intrinsic part of their sporting career as both were members of the Maltese team way back in 1989 in Cyprus.

Similarly, Galea has been an ever-present name at these Games since 1993.

Athletes like Jennifer Pace-Hickey and Ricky Baldacchino will be making their comeback at these Games whereas newcomers like Charlene Attard will be looking to register an excellent result at the first time of asking.

Coaching staff

A number of coaches have been monitoring the training programme of our athletes in a bid to ensure that they peak at the right time for the Games. Performances registered during the first two weeks of May suggest that athletes are on the right track.

Geoff Ward is the coaching coordinator responsible for the overall performances of the Maltese athletes. However, given that athletics comprises a number of events, specialist coaches are helping the Maltese athletes.

Leandros Calleja, and Godwin Zammit are responsible for the women's sprint events. Likewise, Jivco Jetchev and Vladimir Douchenkov specialise in training for the jump and sprint events.

Endurance training is supervised by Ivan Rozhnov and John Walsh while Jesmond Bonnici monitors the middle-distance athletes.

Some 70 Maltese officials will be on duty during the three days of competition. The MAAA has invested heavily in new equipment especially the false start system.

The new rules stipulate that only one false start is allowed in each race. Any other false start will result in the athlete being disqualified from the event.

With 29 gold medals up for grabs, Maltese athletes will definitely be hoping to improve their hatful of medals won in San Marino two years ago.