Malta achieved a fantastic place in the fifth edition of the Championships of the Small States of Europe, behind winners Cyprus and ahead of 15 other European nations with a string of superlative performances in Gibraltar.
Malta’s afternoon in Gibraltar at the Championships of the Small States of Europe kept getting better with more gold medals in the bag.
The 200m women race proved to be an all-Maltese affair with Charlotte Wingfield edging out Carla Scicluna as both athletes went on the highest two positions of the podium. Jared Micallef struck gold in the 800m, running the two lap-race in 1:52.87 to finish ahead of Pol Moya of Andorra.
The final two old of the evening was achieved by Malta’s fantastic relay team, with the quartet of Claire Azzopardi, Charlotte Wingfield, Carla Scicluna, Janet Richard winning ahead of Cyprus and Armenia. The male counterparts were not to be undone, with Graham Pellegrini, Omar El Aida Chaffey, Matthew Galea Soler and Beppe Grillo also finishing top, ahead of Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Gina McNamara went home with a medal of each colour, adding two more medals to her gold in the morning, finishing second in the 5k and third in the 800m.
Malta’s only medal in the field came courtesy of Rachela Pace in the long jump. She placed second with 6.28m.
EARLIER
Malta has won its first gold medal in the Athletics Championships of the Small States of Europe being held today in Gibraltar.
In the 1500m women race, Gina McNamara claimed top spot for Malta in a Championship record time of 4:45.43. She finished ahead of Kosovo’s Gresa Bakraci and Iceland’s Embla Margret Hreminsdottir. It’s going to be a busy day in Gibraltar for the Maltese talent as she will also be running on the 800m and the 5000m distances later on during the day.
Two silvers were already in the bag early in the session, with Janet Richard (400m) taking second place with 54.32s behind Kalliopi Kountouri of Cyprus (54.18).
Beppe Grillo also claimed silver in the 100m with a 10.71s timing, behind Francesco Sansovini of San Marino (10.63s).
In the 3000m steeplechase, national champion Luke Micallef also added another silver, finishing second in 9:08.35, behind Gil Weicherding of Luxembourg.
In the 100m women, Carla Scicluna finished third in 12.13s, in a very close finish, with Claire Azzopardi closing in fifth place in 12.18s. The two athletes will be joining forces later on in the relay team.
In the 400m men, third place and a bronze for Graham Pellegrini, finishing in 48.56s behind Albanian and Cypriot sprinters.
