Athletics Malta wrapped up the Track and Field season earlier this month, participating in the 10th edition of the European Kids Athletics Festival, an annual event held over two days in Brno, the Czech Republic.

Young hopefuls between the ages of 10 and 15, hailing from 13 countries, were present for an all-time high of 1,389 participants.

The MAAA selection was again made up of the best athletes competing at the Marsa athletics stadium this year, except for two athletes who had to be ruled out as they were not 100 per cent fit.

Sean Spiteri (left) on the winner’s podium in Brno.

The squad, made up of seven boys and seven girls, practically Malta’s youth national team, again gave a very good account of themselves at the meeting.

In all, they bagged five medals.

There were two second placings in the sprints for 13-year old Sean Spiteri and a high jump bronze by the youngest member in the team – 12-year-old Rachela Pace. She cleared 1.45 metres.

Another two bronze medals were won by Kayley Bondin in the 300m sprint (43.22 seconds) and Liam McKay in the 100m hurdles – not a popular event at Marsa.

McKay clocked 15.55secs, a personal best that earned him a podium place in Brno.

Spiteri’s time in the shorter 60m sprint, at 7.68 seconds, was also a national record and his 18.81s in the 150m a personal best.

Indeed, all medal winners had a personal best time recorded, as did the majority of the other athletes in the MAAA team.

Making it to the final from the 60m heats were Carla Scicluna and Karl Attard as Nasim Dardouri, Gary Ghirxi and Meave Philips contested the B final.

In the middle distance races, Maria Ghigo, Nicole Sciberras and Jean Claude Randon did well, the latter posting a national best time in the 1,500m.

Throwers Martina Mamo and Luca Martini, record holders locally many times over, also produced encouraging results in Brno.