More records in field events

The last time the national record for the shot putt for men was set, at 13.80 metres, most of the athletes currently gracing the sport at Marsa were yet to be born.

A few others, like Euro-certified technical official Joseph Farrugia, entrusted with the certification of the feat last Saturday, remarked that he remembered clearly that by-gone day in 1991, as he himself was competing.

Back then it was Tristan Meadows, of La Salle Tristar, who wrote his name in the record book.

Obviously, at the time little did anyone think that the record would last that long. Lawrence Ransley is now the proud holder, besting the distance by 18cm his last throw.

To make it an afternoon to remember, another member of the Pembroke Athleta club, Andy Grech, yet again on the field, leapt, hopped and skipped the triple jump to land 16cm further away from the 2006 record set by Rachid Chouhal at the Andorra GSSE.

That these records come in the wake of a number of others being set at regular intervals underline the vigourous measures being taken through many quarters to bring Malta’s elite performers nearer to the exploits of other European athletes.

What’s more, it would seem that the EAA flagship event, the European Championships to be held in Helsinki and later on, the London Olympics, are a source of inspiration for our athletes to produce better and better results.

If anything, the athletic meeting last Saturday witnessed strong entries, especially in the sprinting events with multiple heats being contested.

In the 100 and 200m, Chouhal continues to be the leading light, while the dominance of Diane Borg in the same events continues unabated.

Another exciting contest was the 400m men, in which Neil Brimmer warded off the strong challenge of Matthew Croker to re-affirm his hold on the one-lap race.