With the first key milestones of the season fast approaching, two highly competitive meetings have set the stage for what promises to be another thrilling year for Maltese athletics. These early events saw younger athletes seize the opportunity to showcase their talent, setting several new records in their respective age categories—sometimes even outpacing their more experienced counterparts.
Sprint Showdowns Deliver Excitement
The 60m men’s sprint provided thrilling contests across both weekends. In the first meeting, Jacob El Aida Chaffey (Zurrieq) clinched victory with an impressive 6.94s, finishing ahead of Luke Bezzina (Pembroke) at 7.15s. Meanwhile, Luca Gerada (Rush AC) secured third place with 7.18s, a time that matched the Under-18 category record.
A week later, it was Beppe Grillo (Pembroke)—the national 100m record holder—who dominated the event, winning in 6.84s, and finishing 0.14s ahead of Jacob El Aida Chaffey. Jacques Borg, another promising young athlete, secured third place in 7.31s, equalling the national best for the Under-16 category.
Among the women, Thea Parnis Coleiro (Rush AC) delivered a stunning performance, upsetting her more seasoned Pembroke rivals. She won the sprint in 7.70s, ahead of Alessia Cristina (7.97s) and Rebecca Sare (8.06s). Parnis Coleiro’s time secured her place in the record books for both the Under-18 and Under-20 categories.
Middle-Distance Runners Impress
On the 600m track, Isaac Bonnici (Rush AC) continued his remarkable progress, winning the event in 1:20.08. His performance set a new senior national record while also establishing Under-20 and Under-23 records in the process.
In the 1000m event, Michael Debattista Segond (Pembroke) and Mireya Bugeja (Zurrieq) built on their strong form, winning in 2:31.90 and 2:53.97, respectively—both setting new Under-20 records.
Another standout moment came in the 60m hurdles, where Kayleigh Anne Ellul (Rush AC) set a new national best for the Under-16 and Under-18 categories, clocking 9.60s.
Winter Championships Up Next
Following these exciting opening meetings, the focus now shifts to the first major event of the season, the Winter Championships, set to take place this Saturday, February 8, at the Athletics Stadium in Marsa. With several athletes already in record-breaking form, fans can expect another weekend of high-level performances.
