Kevin Moore, winner of a gold medal in the 400m at the Games of the Small States of Europe held in Luxembourg in June, is the only Maltese runner taking part in the World Athletics Cham-pionships, to be staged in Moscow later this month.

Given that Moore, who resides in Melbourne, produced Malta’s solitary gold medal in the GSSE athletics events, it is with some expectation that he will be representing the country at the World Championships between August 10 and 18.

Moore will be running in the first heat of the 400m tomorrow week at 9.05am, Moscow time, which is two hours ahead of local time.

Only a week ago, in preparation for this prestigious event, Moore took part in a meeting in Brussels, setting a new national record for the 400m of 47.26 seconds before continuing his training on Maltese soil.

In Moscow, Moore will be accompanied by Anthony Chircop, the president of Athletics Malta. Chircop will attend the IAAF Congress, which will end on the Thursday before the Championships, and other  meetings.

These include the annual assembly of the Mediterranean Athletic Union, a new body of athletics set up two years ago of which Chircop is a council member, and the assembly of the members of the Small States of Europe.

John William Steffenson, Moore’s personal coach and himself an accomplished 400m runner, will be flying all the way from Australia to guide his protégé who has high hopes of progressing to further rounds at this gathering of the finest one-lap sprinters on the world stage.