Mallia sets record in 60m

Therese Mallia and Darren Gilford were in action on the first day of the Euro Indoor Championships in Madrid yesterday.

Mallia clocked 7.96 seconds in the 60m which officially is a new national mark - Maltese athletes do not normally compete in indoor events. The previous best of 7.98 was set by Celine Pace.

Gilford has more experience in indoor competitions and it showed in his result. With Briton Mark Lewis Francis again in the same heat, after the two sprinted together in the Athens 2004 100m heats, Gilford produced a commendable effort to finish fourth in 6.79.

Had Gilford achieved his record time of 6.76, he would have advanced into the semi-finals. He finished 19th overall in a field of 28.

Today, another Maltese athlete, Rachid Chouhal will take part in Group A of the long jump event.

Chouhal is looking to produce a good performance to approach and perhaps eclipse his record of 7.65 metres (outdoor).