Records and fine results

There was an encouraging start to this year’s Malta Weightlifting Association competitions following the first tournament held at the Cotto-nera Sports Complex last weekend as a good number of promising lifters continued to show steady progress.

Nicole Gatt alone succeeded in breaking nine national records, four in the 53kg youths, four in the juniors and one in the category for seniors.

Gatt lifted a total of 87kg for a first placing in her class. She was followed by Marilyn Grech and Destiny Vella Busuttil.

A creditable effort from Fran-cesca Mercieca won her the top spot in the category for cadets.

In men’s youths, Hayden Farrugia cleared a total of 124kg to finish first ahead of Miguel Grixti and Joran Farrugia. The latter esta-blished a record in the +94kg youths in the process.

Malcolm Camilleri improved on his last performance and gained 75 points as Emerson Bugeja also left his mark in his first competition at this level.

Rodmar Pulis was the best lifter in the men’s competition with 253 points.

Matthew Muscat Inglott was the runner-up with 244 points as encouraging results were also obtained by Chris Schinas (177 points), James Formosa (172) and Mark Briffa (160).

The technical officers for this competition were Alfred Ellul Mercer, Simon Brincat, Stephen Borg and Andrea Caruana.

The competition was run by Jesmond Caruana who has just returned from Saudi Arabia where he served as a member of the jury in an international tournament with the participation of 22 countries. Saudi, Egyptian and Turkey lifters dominated the show.