This year’s International Swimming Meet in Berlin, Germany, again reserved a bonanza of national age group records and medals for Maltese swimmers, a clear indication of the progress local youngsters are making in the sport.

There were 15 records in all, one in group A, eight in group B and six in group C.

The most prolific record-breaker was Neil Muscat with eight, followed by Julian Harding with five and one each from Amy Micallef and Kristina Fino. These new marks were supported by 18 medals.

Muscat improved his own B marks in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle (27.32; 59.88 and 2:09.54), 50 and 100 butterfly (29.22 and 1:07.03), 50 and 200 breaststroke (34.31 and 2:45.56), and 100 backstroke (1:06.51).

Muscat returned home with 10 medals, five silver and five bronze.

Harding bettered five C records which he held.

These are 50, 100 and 200 but-terfly (27.54, 1:00.37 and 2:20.59), 50 breaststroke (32.02) and 200 IM (2:22.00) in the process winning two silver medals.

In the girls category, Micallef (group C) swam the 200 IM in 2:33.96 to break her own previous best. She won three medals, a gold, silver and bronze while Fino’s 36.53 in the 50 butterfly also bettered her time in group A.

Other podium winners were Mia Azzopardi (a gold and silver) and Michael Umnov who won a silver medal.