Windy meeting at Marsa

Stadium athletics competition took off to a blustery start on Saturday as the prevailing winds initially threatened to play havoc with the more popular sprinting events.

Nonetheless the turnout for the 60m burn-out was significant, given that many seasoned athletes were missing local action for one reason or another.

With Athletics Malta lacking local indoor facilities, athletes aspiring to have a good winter season have either to perform abroad or otherwise hope and pray that on the day the weather remains benevolent.

As it was, with the wind blowing against, our athletes had an added obstacle to overcome.

Rebecca Camilleri, last year representing Malta at the World Indoors and presently studying in Italy, is now tactfully on the books of CUS Parma to make the most of her preparations for this season.

In fact, her 7.93secs in the 60m proved to be the best on the day.

The leading time for the men came about courtesy of Jeandre Mallia, triumphant in a time of 7.09, but up and coming youngsters Eric Borg Saywell, Robyn Zammit, Nicole Gatt and Thalia Massa gave a good account of themselves.

In the longer sprints, Matthew Croker, Neil Brimmer and Ian Paul Grech had a promising start too, as did Mario Grech, wedged in between Ibrahim Hussen and Vincenzo Scuro in the 3,000m opening event.

In field events, competition was somewhat subdued with Antonella Chouhal demonstrating her talent in the hammer and discus throws.

Towards the end of the meeting, it was with satisfaction that Athletics Malta witnessed participation in two events not very often practised locally – the 400m hurdles for men and the women’s steeplechase.

The times were not outstanding but the obvious determination of the participants was heartening, especially in view of the various commitments to be tackled later on in the year.