Five medals for Maltese youths in Brno

The second European Kids Athletics Games in Brno, Czech Republic, for children aged between 10 and 15, was held recently and attracted a substantial number of entries from 12 nations and some 75 clubs, mostly from central Europe.

This year the Maltese contingent of 19 athletes returned home with five medals.

Jana Pace Cocks was the main protagonist, earning a bronze medal in the 60m and 300m sprints and a silver, along with her team-mates, in the 4 x 60m relay. She was also fifth overall in the long jump.

Tamara Vella's bronze in the long jump and, significantly, Christian Luke Chetcuti, with his 800m silver medal in 2 minutes 16 seconds, had the entire Maltese group hoarse in support.

Indeed, in the 60m sprints, the Malta team must have struck chords of anxiety in the opposition when in the '93 category all five girls won their heats, bar one. She came in tied on time but in second place.

The A Final was a delight to watch. Besides Pace Cocks, the other finalists were Vella, Yazmin Zammit and Marija Sciberras. Julie Ann Grech contested the B Final.

In the same event for girls, but one year older, both Annalise Vassallo and Rebecca Farrugia made it to the B Final, which Vassallo won. Janice Borg went one better when she qualified for the A Final, finishing seventh overall from 29 entries.

Three other girls born in 1994, Daniela Gauci Borda, Martina Gerada and Nadia Tabone, had their first taste of an international event in the 60m and 150m sprints, the long jump and the 800m.

Besides the sole medal won by the boys, one cannot but commend the performances of Steve Camilleri in the '92 category. After qualifying second in his 60m heat, he finished a whisker away from the podium taking fourth place in the final.

On the following day, Camilleri claimed top spot in his heat in the 300m, finishing eighth overall in a field of 36.

Not less commendable were the exploits of Jeremy Borg who qualified for the long jump final, his best clearance of 5.36m earning him fifth place out of 41 entries.

In the 1,500m race, Robert Zammit made his international debut placing fifth overall, leaving 14 others in his wake.

Among the youngest participants, boys born in 1994, Daniel Vella and Jean Gauci both bettered their personal best in the Ball Throw but it was left for Miguel Bugeja to break a record when in his 60m heat the promising sprinter clocked 8.29 seconds. His time in the B Final was actually even better but the following wind was beyond the limit.

Bugeja also made it to the B Final in the 150m after placing first in his heat. In the final, he recorded a better time of 20.36 seconds for fifth place.

In the 4 x 60m relay (1993) the boys team finished sixth overall from 23 entries.

In a statement, Athletics Malta said it was satisfied with the general performance but, above all, for the valuable experience gained while participating in an international event abroad.

Athletics Malta was assisted by Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport. MAAA council members Anthony Fava and Sue Mercieca led the group in Brno.