A group of 14 youngsters have just represented Athletics Malta in the European Kids Athletics Games in Brno, Czech Republic.

The two-day meet brought the curtains down on the track and field season for the local association.

The Maltese did well in Brno, returning home with two individual medals and two others in relays besides a long list of personal bests. Indeed, no mean feat considering the Games were contested by 81 teams from 10 different countries.

Besides the numerous participants from the Czech and Slovak republics, Russia, the UK, Hungary, Slovenia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Malta were the other nations taking part.

Nicole Gatt was first in the 300m race in an excellent time of 41.83 seconds. Kurt Dalli was second in the 1,500m when clocking 4.33.48.

The girls’ relay team was made up of Destiny Vella Busuttil, Gabriella Grima, Nicole Gatt and Robyn Zammit.

They left their rivals in their wake, finishing first ahead of the strong Czech and Hungarian squads.

Samuel Zammit, Bradley Mifsud, Nicholas Mallia and Eric Borg Saywell, thanks to their smooth change-overs, pipped the English to the line to claim bronze.

Capping this fine showing by Malta was the national record set by Zammit in the 60m youth girls. She stopped the clock in 8.20 seconds in her heat, finishing sixth just ahead of Gatt in the final.

Furthermore, considering that for Nadine Gatt, 13, this was only her first year in athletics competitions, she excelled by making it to the finals of both the 60m and 150m sprints.