Edwin Attard

With only six weeks to go for the GSSE games, now is the time when most of our athletes are eager to test the effectiveness of their training in their efforts to achieve the set minimum qualifying standard.

During last Saturday’s Aggregate Track and Field meeting, organised by the MAAA at the Marsa Athletic Track, there were a number of very creditable performances, despite the strong southerly winds which made the athletes’ task more difficult.

Both Carol Walsh and Rachid Chouhal achieved the minimum qualifying standard established for this year’s GSSE. In addition, Antonella Chouhal set a new national record in the women’s discus, while young Francesca Xuereb set a new junior national record in the 400m.

In the women’s 10,000m, Carol Walsh maintained a steady pace throughout to clock a time of 36:48.12 which was well inside the 2007 GSSE MQS. In the men’s Long Jump, Rachid Chouhal also won a place on the team with a leap of 7.33m. He would need to clear a further half a metre, at least, to consider himself in the medal zone.

The Xuereb twins ran an excellent race in the women’s 400m. Francesca clocked 56.07 to set a new junior NR, while Martina was second a mere 0.2 seconds behind. The times achieved by the twins together with those achieved by Charlene Attard and Diane Borg earlier on this year, suggest that the 4x400m relay team should also be considered to be virtually qualified for this year’s GSSE.

During last Saturday’s meeting, there was also an attempt by a Maltese selection to achieve the 4x100m MQS. The four runners (Francesca Xuereb, Martina Xuereb, Diane Borg and Therese Mallia) managed a time of 47.99 and were only marginally outside the MQS’s time of 47.48.

Jennifer Pace’s long-standing record in the women’s discus was finally broken by Antonella Chouhal with a throw of 40.75m. It is now hoped that Chouhal can continue to improve in order to secure a place on the 2007 GSSE team. Another thrower to catch the eye was javelin thrower Jean Paul Callus who achieved a seasonal best of 57.13m.

Perhaps the most interesting competition of the day was the men’s 800m which saw an exciting duel between Mark Herrera and Mario Debono. Herrera did the early running, but before the bell, Debono burst through and kept plugging away down the back straight. Herrera, however, clawed his way back and managed to overtake Debono in the final straight.

The finishing times of both athletes suggest that these two runners have the potential to lift local middle-distance running to new heights. Herrera’s winning time was 1:55.19 while second-placed Debono ran the distance in 1:56.78.

Nicolai Portelli’s time of 50.60 in the 400m can also be considered as a positive performance considering that he is still recovering from an injury.

Performances in the 100m and 200m were severely hindered by a strong head-wind. Nonetheless, both Diane Borg who ran the 100m in 12.44 and Mario Bonello who clocked 22.62 in the 200m recorded fairly respectable times. Neal Borg won the men’s 100m in 11.53.