Thirty-two athletes have been called up to represent the Maltese National Team at the upcoming Championships of Small States of Europe (CSSE) 2022 that will be held on home soil next Saturday, June 11.
The athletes, who will be flying the Maltese flag in various disciplines on track and field, bring a mix of experience and youth as they prepare to face off stiff competition from 16 other European nations, including the likes of Georgia, Armenia and Moldova who will be represented by high calibre athletes including Olympic and World Championship finalists.
Some 350 athletes and officials are expected to take part in this year’s edition of the Games.
Andy Grech, Athletics Malta president said: “We are very happy to call up this fantastic squad of 32 athletes to compete alongside top-level talent at these Games. The process leading up to this final squad selection has been ongoing for a couple of years, since the setting up of a high-performance national team structure, bringing together the best and most experienced coaches on the island under the coordination of technical director Mario Bonello”.
Grech added that over the past two seasons, Maltese athletes were given numerous opportunities to take part in high-profile training camps and competitions abroad.
“I am confident that this preparation will be translated in a positive day for the national team – although this experience should not be seen as an end in itself but an important milestone towards major events in the pipeline for the months ahead.”
The event will also be attended by a number of high-profile international delegates including Dobromir Karamarinov (European Athletics president), Libor Varhanik and Jean Garcia (European Athletics vice-presidents), Dimakos Panagiotis (European Athletics Council Member) as well as Frank Carreras (president of the Athletics Association of Small States of Europe – AASSE).
CSSE 2022 and the Maltese National Team are supported by the Maltese Olympic Committee, SportMalta, The Malta Tourism Authority, Eurosport, Medcomms Ltd., Big Mat, Salini Resort and Corporate ID Group.
THE TEAM
WOMEN: Carla Scicluna (100, 200, Relay), Alessia Cristina (100), Charlotte Wingfield (200, Relay), Janet Richard (400, Relay), Martha Spiteri (400), Michela Caruana (800), Mireya Bugeja (800), Roberta Schembri (5000), Lisa Marie Bezzina (5000), Claire Azzopardi (Long Jump, Relay), Rachela Pace (Long Jump), Peppijna Dalli (Pole Vault), Sana Grillo (Pole Vault), Mireya Cassar (Hammer Throw), Antonella Chouhal (Hammer Throw, Discus), Mariah Zahra (Discus).
MEN: Beppe Grillo (100, 200, Relay), Luke Bezzina (100), Steve Camilleri (200, Relay), Luke Mizzi (400), Matthew Galea Soler (400, Relay), Ben Micallef (800, Relay), Christian Chetcuti (800), Dillon Cassar (5000), Luke Micallef (5000), Daniel Saliba (110H), Ian Grech (Long Jump), Jeremy Zammit (Long Jump), Nicolai Bonello (Pole Vault), Luca Martini (Hammer Throw), Bradley Mifsud (Discus) and Luke Farrugia (Discus).
