The Malta Weightlifting Association have just held their first competition of the year, a key qualifying meet to determine national team selections for overseas tournaments in March.

An encouraging number of young lifters took part in the Cadets class. The best results on the day were those of Rylee Borg with 125 points. Second-placed Kyle Camilleri accumulated 117 points to set a new benchmark in the 30kg category.

Lionel Zerafa topped the boys’ U-15 category, lifting 61kg, as Shelby Vassallo managed 56kg to win the girls’ competition.

In the U-17 events, the honours went to Kieran Mifsud (215kg) and Shazel Guzman (75kg).

The best result for juniors was that of Andy Grech, lifting 175kg.

Rebecca Fitz also left her mark in the girls’ meet as she established six new records in Clean and Jerk plus total – 89kg.

The next on the mat were lifters from the women’s seniors category.

Competition was tight with national team selection at stake but in the end first place was claimed by Pamela Psaila – 137kg and 188 points.

She set three new records along the way.

Yazmin Zammit Stevens was second with a total of 129kg and 163 points as Elisa Scicluna settled for third (135kg – 154 points) ahead of Kristen Borg (98kg – 151 points).

The last competition of the day was the Men’s Open tournament.

Here, Rodmar Pulis showed he is in fine form after clearing 244kg and reaching a top score of 302 points.

He was followed by Matthew Camilleri (226kg – 269 points) and Anton Micallef (202kg – 237 points) in that order.

At the end of the meeting at the Cottonera Sports Complex, the association confirmed that Pulis, Micallef, Ryan Agius, Psaila and Zammit Stevens were the ones selected to represent Malta at the European Small Nations Championship in Cyprus.

Matthew Camilleri, Grech, Scicluna and Borg will team up at the Mediterranean Cup in Spain.