Danica Bonello Spiteri and Hannah Pace produced outstanding performances in their respective categories at last weekend’s European Triathlon Championships, held in Lisbon.
Bonello Spiteri topped the classification in the Standard Distance and Pace was runner-up in both Sprint and Standard triathlons.
Races were centred around Parque das Nacoes at the eastern end of the Portuguese capital city, an area that hosted the World Expoin 1998.
The Sprint Race was held last Friday on the distances of 750 metres swim, 20kms cycle and 5kms run. The Standard (Olympic) championships, two days later, were contested on double the Sprint race distances.
Pace was second in the Sprint race as Bonello Spiteri came home fourth, closely followed by Michelle Vella Wood, who was eighth in Sunday’s race. Nina Zammit was ninth in the Sprint and Lara Buttigieg 10th on her debut on the international scene.
The Maltese team also included Shaun Galea and Neil Markham, both in their first showings in the Europeans.
Galea was 14th in Sprint and 69th (from a field of almost 500) on Sunday. Markham had a 19th-place finish on Friday. He was 15th in the Standard race. Both registered improved personal best times in Portugal.
Triathlon Malta president Cyprian Dalli was elated by the team’s performances.
“Once again, we managed to put our small country on the map of continental triathlon with some great results and impressive podium finishes,” he said.
“The team was markedly young, with an average age of 24 years. However, managing such key targets with this squad underlines the growth and development of the sport in Malta and consolidates the vision and targets for the years ahead.
“This great group of athletes did incredibly well and all against the odds… we’re extremely proud of every single one of them.”
In Lisbon, Dalli also attended the European Triathlon Union’s annual general assembly which was held in conjunction with the championships.
Other meetings were held with the ETU’s Development Board to analyse, discuss and lay plans for an increased progression and expansion of the sport in Malta.
The participation of the team in the European Championships was made possible through the funding of the Maltese Olympic Committee and the support of the European Triathlon Union.