Ten-medal haul for MAAA team

The young athletes making up the Malta Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) team in the European Athletic Kids Games, held in the Czech Republic last week, gave a good account of themselves, winning two gold, five silver and three bronze medals.

Malta's haul of 10 medals is indeed an achievement, considering the large number of competitors entered for each event, with athletes hailing from 11 different countries across Europe.

The results and performances of the Maltese athletes in Brno also reward the efforts of the team of coaches in charge of the MAAA squad.

Fielding 330 of the total 730 participants, the Czech Republic took the top places in the majority of the events.

For Malta, the determined Xuereb twins dominated the 300m (Born 91) event with Martina Xuereb placing first among 33 athletes to win gold. Her sister Francesca was third in 40.67secs.

Martina and Francesca also contributed to Malta's second gold medal when teaming up with Rebecca Sare and Dorianne Micallef in the 4 x 60m girls relay. Martina Xuereb, a 15-year-old who already forms part of the senior national team, won a silver medal in the 60m sprint in her category, clocking a fast time of 7.92 seconds.

The up-and-coming Tamara Vella, 13, won silver medals in the long jump (4.88m) and the high jump (1.57m). Vella then joined Jana Pace Cocks, Yasmin Zammit and Julie Ann Grech in the 4 x 60m relay (Born 93) where the Maltese quartet finished second.

Record equalled

Dorianne Micallef, 15, equalled the senior national high jump record of 1.58m and placed sixth overall.

In the relay events, Malta competed against 13 teams in the Born 91 section and against 17 teams in the Born 93 category.

Another good result was obtained by Sare (Born 93). She cleared 5.04m in the long jump to clinch a silver medal.

Andrew Cassar Torregiani (Born 92) took bronze when finishing third from 28 athletes in the 60m with a time of 7.57 seconds. Michael Sullivan, Cassar Torregiani, Sacha Dunlop and Ezekiel Micallef placed third in the 4 x 60m relay.

Other good results came from Francesca Xuereb and Zammit, both finishing first in their respective 60m sprint heats.

Pace Cocks (Born 93) was second in her 800m heat (2:35.42) as well as in the 60m heat (8.77secs).

Dunlop also ran a good race in winning his 300m heat in 39.66 seconds. Sullivan dashed home in 7.57secs in the 60m, finishing third.

The MAAA team, led by Tania Xuereb, a council member of the local athletics association, was assisted by the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport.