Sprinters raise GSSE hopes

The 60m national record broken on six separate occasions... that is Maltese athletics' impressive calling card as the initial part of the season - the indoor campaign - comes to a close.

The two sprinters at the centre of that stirring face-off, albeit a friendly one, were Charlene Attard, of Pembroke Athleta, and Diane Borg, of Starmax AC. While the former ultimately ended the season with a 7.66s best on an outdoor track, Borg registered a time of 7.60s indoors.

This record was broken in Birmingham at the European Indoor Championships, Borg's third competition overseas in as many months.

"I'm proud to have broken the record," Borg said. "I always try to do my best and to lower my time. That is always the focus."

Her previous experiences helped ensure that she was calm enough to concentrate on that aim.

"When I started competing abroad I used to let the presence of big name athletes influence me but with time I've learnt how to handle it," she said.

Mature words indeed for an athlete who has just turned 16.

In Birmingham, Attard clocked 7.84s, short of the national record but still a good result.

She said: "I've run four races this year and in three of them I've broken a record so I am pleased with the way my season has gone."

Monaco prospects

As for the rest of the season, Attard will be concentrating on the GSSE this year.

"I'll be focusing on the 200m," she said, "but I'll still train and compete in the 100m."

The form of Attard and Borg raise expectations of a good performance in the 4x100m in Monaco.

"We've got a strong quartet but a lot depends on the other sprinters as well as our form on the day," says Attard.

Darren Gilford, of Pembroke Athleta, will also be hoping for a medal in Monaco. For now, however, the lone Maltese male representative in Birmingham is focusing on nailing the qualifying time.

"The first target this season has to be matching the qualifying standards," he said. "It won't be easy as the standards are virtually on the same levels as national records."

So far, however, his season has been frustrating.

"I was disappointed not because I didn't break the national record but because I expected to do a time of around 6.70s. We've identified what went wrong and hopefully we'll be able to work on those problems," he said.

And there's always something positive to take from even in the most negative of situations.

"These trips abroad have been important learning experiences and I feel that I've benefited a lot. If anything, I was invited to join the Bolton United Harriers athletics team which will provide me with plenty of opportunities to compete in England," Gilford said.

Plenty of opportunities, you would hope, for national records to be improved further.