Last Saturday, the Malta Amateur Athletic Association held its third and last in the series of Pre-Season Track and Field Meetings. Despite the cold wind blowing across the Matthew Micallef St.John Athletic Stadium, there were some exciting and interesting races which auger well for the current year’s athletic season.

In the shorter sprints Jeandre Mallia (Athleta Pembroke) again won the 60m event in 6.90 (manual timing). While Angie Mangion, (also from Athleta Pembroke) who appears to be in fine form this year, won the women’s sprint in a new record time of 7.60 (manual).

In the Intermediate category Matthew Crocker ran a hard race in the 200m which he won in 23.60m. He had Mark Bugeja (De La Salle) breathing down his neck up till he crossed the finishing line.

In the Youth Girls Category twin sisters Martina and Francesca Xuereb (both Starmarx AC) had a very interesting afternoon when they placed first and second respectively in the 100m (out of 21 entrants) and the 400m but also placed first and third in the shot. If that is not flexibility for you I don’t know what is.

In the Youth Boys category Mark Anthony Farrguia (Starmax) won the 200m in 25.20 closely followed by Andrew Cassar Torregiani. In the Long Jump it was Andrew Cassar Torregiani who won the event with a Jump of 4.90m while March Anthony Farrugia had to content himself with third with his best jump of 4.73m. It is good to see coaches encouraging their young athletes for both Track and Field events.

In the senior events Mark Herrera (Athleta Pembroke) won the 3,000m in 8:53.60 while Lisa Marie Bezzina won the women’s 3,000m in 10:41.00 while Joelle Cortis won the Junior Category of the same event in 11:12.30.

In the men’s High Jump Vittorio Aquilina (Intermediate) and Paul Vella (Sr) both cleared 1.65m while Dorianne Micallef (AS Libertas) won the Women’s event with a jump of 1.55m.

Also of interest was Jason’s Monreal (Athleta Pembroke) trying the Pole Vault when he managed to clear 3.70m. We had not seen anyone trying the Pole Vault at the Marsa for the last three years or so.

More exciting duels are expected today during the first Aggregate Meeting of the season with the first event starting at 1.30pm.