Rush AC athletes gain major experience in European Kids Athletics Games in Brno

Twenty-six Rush AC athletes, aged 10 to 15 years, enjoyed a memorable experience in the Czech Republic at the European Kids Athletics Games in Brno, obtaining very encouraging results in a highly-competitive field.

The highlight of this adventure belonged to young prodigy Thea Parnis Coleiro, aged 15, who won gold in the 60m spring breaking a long-standing record of Alessia Cristina with a time of 7.76s and establishing a new national benchmark not only for her age category – Under 16 – but also at Under 18 and Under 20 level, testament to the potential of this athlete.

Parnis Coleiroa also came fourth in the 300m missing bronze by a fraction of a second.

Parnis Coleiro was joined by Luca Gerada, Thea Shoemake and Andrea Grech in an incredible performance in the mixed 4x300m relay, as the quarter cancelled out the previous national record by a staggering nine seconds, setting the new benchmark at 2:39.12.

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In the shorter 4x60m relay, both girls and boys achieved a new club record, with Kayla Slack, Kayleigh Anne Ellul, Leah Frendo, and Thais Catania completing the race in 33.07 while Andre Gauci, Giacomo Portelli, Waylin Debattista and Kurt Ciantar came home in 35.31s.

Deserved mentions also for Luca Gerada who broke a long-standing recording in the Under 16 with a 7.31s finish in the 60m, finishing fifth, the same position he achieved in the javelin with a throw of 47.44m, improving his personal best by some four metres.

In a busy week for Gerada, he also made it through to the shotput final.

One of the youngest members of the delegation, Leah Frendo performed admirably finishing her 60m dash in the Under 11 category a mere 0.02 from a podium place.

A number of other Rush AC athletes performed admirably well establishing personal or seasonal best.

Several athletes qualified from their respective heats and made it to the finals of this exceptionally high-level competition. 

At the same time, many younger athletes continued to show remarkable progress and promise in what augurs well for the future not solely of the Club but also for the Maltese athletics movement in general.

The Rush AC delegation in Brno was led by Antonella Chouhal, Rachid Chouhal, Kyle Caruana and Matthew Micallef.