Malta’s top woman sprinter Diane Borg lived up to her billing yester-day as she succeeded in qualifying for the next round of the 100m heats in the World Championships, currently underway in Daegu, South Korea.
In all, there were five preliminary heats contested by women on Day One of competition and Borg figured in the second and fastest race of the eliminatory series.
She finished third in her race behind Delphine Atangana (Cameroon, 11.57 secs) and Feta Aha-mada (Comoros, 12.27 secs) to earn an automatic berth in the second round which is scheduled for early this morning.
Borg sprinted home in 12.29 seconds, ranking her ninth overall from 36 sprinters. Her personal best for the 100m is 11.89 seconds.
Coached by Mario Bonello, this year Borg has excelled at the GSSE winning two gold medals (200m and 4x100m relay) and a silver (100m) besides setting three national records in the process.
Also in action for Malta in Daegu yesterday was Karl Farrugia in the 100m heats.
The GSSE relay silver medallist ran in the fourth and final heat of the eliminatories, clocking a time of 11.21 that placed him fourth in his race won by Malaysia’s Mo-hammad Noor Imran A Hadi in 10.77 seconds.
Farrugia was classified 14th overall from 31 starters. With 13 to qualify for the next round, the Maltese sprinter, coached by Vla-dimir Duchencov, just missed qualification by a whisker.
Borg and Farrugia are members of the Centre of Excellence Scheme run by the Maltese Olympic Committee.
During the IAAF Congress in South Korea, Malta was re-presented by MAAA president Anthony Chircop.