National marks for Galea, Callus

The targets which Malta's top female swimmers, Angela Galea and Roberta Callus were aiming at before they left to represent their country in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, were breaking the national records in their events.

Yesterday those objectives were achieved in the 100 metres butterfly and 800 metres freestyle races as both girls established new marks in their heats.

Competing in the butterfly event, Galea clipped 1.33 seconds off the record she set last March in Germany to clock 1 minute 04.55 seconds. The time registered by Callus in the 800 metres freestyle was 9 minutes 38.16 seconds, which bettered the nine-year-old record held by Susan Smith by 9.62 seconds. She also improved her own personal best by 11.05 seconds.

Qualification from their heats, in which some of the world's best swimmers were competing, was beyond our swimmers capabilities, considering the strength of the Australians, English and Canadians.

In the 'fly event, Galea was in heat one against Australia's Rachel Coffee, while in the freestyle race, Callus had to contend with the favourite, England's Rebecca Cooke.

Both girls finished last, however, the improvement they registered is just reward for their efforts throughout a hard-working season, which had the Manchester Games at its peak.

Galea and Callus, both studying medicine at the University of Malta, have been at the forefront of local swimming for some years now, and their dedication has helped them better the national records, some of them when they were engaged in much-needed competition against foreigners.

Callus will end her commitments tomorrow when she competes in the 400 metres freestyle, while Galea is due to race in the 200 metres butterfly on Sunday.