The Maltese athletic contingent delivered a stellar performance at the Events Athletics Promotion (EAP) Championships for Small States of Europe, securing a strong tally of 111 points. Facing elite talent from 17 European federations, Malta finished ahead of several traditional GSSE rivals and outpaced much larger sporting nations, including Armenia, Georgia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, and Montenegro. Malta reached this impressive point total by capturing 11 medals in total: three gold, four silver, and four bronze.
Gold Rush and Track Dominance
The team secured three prestigious gold medals on the track. Graham Pellegrini dominated the field in the 200m race, while Jared Micallef outpaced the competition to take first place in the 800m. Benjamin Salnitro completed the golden trio, powering to victory in the 110m hurdles.
Four silver medals were earned through exceptional individual and team efforts. Gabriel Farrugia fought hard for second place in the gruelling 5,000m race, and Gina McNamara secured her silver in the 800m. In the field events, Sana Grillo soared to silver in the pole vault, while the womenโs Swedish relay team rounded out the second-place finishes.
The podium haul was completed by four bronze medals. Matthew Azzopardi (1,500m), Claire Azzopardi (200m), and Omar El Aida Chaffey (100m) earned bronze on the track, while Nicolai Bonello secured his third-place spot in the men’s pole vault.
Record-Breaking Displays
Beyond the podium finishes, the event proved to be a historic milestone for Maltese athletics, with four national records shattered during the competition.
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- Men’s 110m Hurdles: Benjamin Salnitro paired his gold medal with a new national record, clocking an impressive 14.52 seconds.
- Women’s 400m Hurdles: Emma Anastasia Scerri set a new national benchmark by stopping the clock at 1:04.59.
- Women’s Swedish Relay: The quartet of Claire Azzopardi, Thea Parnis, Charlotte Wingfield, and Martha Spiteri set a new national record with a time of 2:10.24.
- U23 Men’s 5,000m: Silver-medalist Gabriel Farrugia continued his fine form, lowering his own Under-23 national record to a superb 14:35.15.
Collaborative Success
The successful Maltese delegation was led by Athletics Malta President Mario Bonello, alongside a dedicated team of national coaches and technical staff. Team Maltaโs historic participation and preparation for this elite tournament were fully supported by the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) and SportMalta.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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