Turin indoors - a learning curve for Scerri

When major indoor championships come around, like the European Indoors in Turin this weekend, they create a dilemma for local athletics.

On the one hand there is the desire to expose local athletes to competition of the highest level whilst on the other such events come far too early in the domestic season for any athlete to be in a good enough condition to do well not to mention the lack of indoor track experience by our athletes.

It would seem that these arguments have been high on the discussion list at Athletics Malta these past few weeks, with the decision to send only one athlete to these championships indicating that a middle-of-the-road approach has been adopted.

"In a newsletter issued a month or so ago, we very clearly set out the conditions and standards that athletes need to achieve for us to send either one or two athletes to the Indoor Championships," association president Tony Chircop explained.

"The athletes we send to represent us in such competitions must first earn the right to do so by achieving the set standards.

"It is also stated in the pre-set qualifying standards, that if neither a male nor a female athlete manages to achieve the times set then the MAAA may decide to send one athlete depending on who obtains the highest number of points on the Hungarian tables."

That choice fell on Lara Scerri, who topped the list thanks to an 8.13s time set in the 60 metres dash on the third pre-season meeting.

It was a somewhat surprising choice, as the sprinter herself admitted.

"Well with Charlene (Attard), the favourite in the short distances, being injured and out of competition for pre-season meets 2 and 3, I knew I was the next in line considering that I came first in these competitions.

"However, I was surprised that I got chosen since the overall choice was between a male and female. At the end of the day, I did have most points and so it was justified."

And indeed, there's no disputing her selection just as there is no avoiding that it will be tough for her in Turin: this will be the first time that she'll be running in an indoor arena and of all the athletes running in the qualification heats of the 60m, Scerri is the only one not to have gone below the eight-second mark this season.

On top of this all, there is the fact that she's had a very limited time to prepare.

"I only got to know that I shall be competing in these indoors a week ago, so in this week I trained hard over the shorter distances, in particular block starts, and also focused on developing my power over the 60m further.

"The fact that it is still early in the season for me obviously limits how well I can do considering the fact that I am not peaked for these championships but am focusing on the upcoming GSSE. However, I am doing my best in training.

"Lack of an indoor arena for training purposes is also a disadvantage as I have no experience in such conditions and so I must adjust to it overnight; though I'm assuming that it should be easier to run indoors than the cold and windy weather conditions that we have to deal with during pre-season meets at Marsa."

Yet, one should not paint too bleak a picture.

After all, improving one's own best timing is always the main aim of Maltese athletes competing in international competitions and Scerri isn't any different.

"The majority, if not all, of the athletes train specifically and peak well for this competition, and many are the top in Europe so I'm not looking for a placing. I'm focusing on running as well as I can to improve my season's best or even better to clock a personal best," she said.

If she does that, then it will be a true achievement and a boost for the rest of the season.

The doubts, however, remain.

Should Malta be sending athletes to such events given that it is so difficult to be anywhere near the required standard? After all, it is the argument used when deciding not to compete in international long distance events.

Chircop, however, doesn't agree that it would be beneficial to refrain from competing.

"The main objective of Athletics Malta is to raise the level of athletics in Malta. There are various ways to achieve that, one of which is motivating the athletes by giving them the chance to participate in international meetings abroad. Indeed, this is perhaps the best way in which one can motivate athletes.

"It is also important that we participate even if with one athlete.

"Our absence would look as if we are failing to support an event sanctioned by the European Athletics Association."