Track and field athletes win five medals
Track and field athletes wrapped up the third day of competition for Team Malta with five medals, three silver and two bronze, to push the overall tally to 35 medals, nine gold, 14 silver, and 12 bronze.
The result is a new record of medals for the Maltese Olympic Committee achieved in a foreign GSSE, eclipsing the previous best secured at the 2011 edition held in Liechtenstein 2011.
Officials from the Maltese Olympic Committee sported a big smile on their faces at the final event on the day, the athletics programme, and Director Sport Charlene Attard was relieved that they had fulfilled their objectives.
“That was our target since the start of our preparations for the Games,” said Attard.
“When we looked at the sports programme, the athletes we had at our disposal and those we were going to face, we believed that we could achieve this result.
“And so it happened as we got the best result in a foreign GSSE, and the best thing is that there are still two more days of competition to go where we can win even more medals.
“Another important point is the fact that during these Games we have seen many young talents emerge after they qualified through Junior MQSs, and that will help us in the long run to continue to be successful in future editions.”
Matthew Galea Soler took silver in the 400 metres when storming home in 47.02 seconds. The gold medal went to Teo Andant, of Monaco, in 45.91.
“It’s a very high-level competition and I am so proud to have won a medal,” Galea Soler said.
“The goal now is to continue to be competitive and win more medals in future competition while continuing to lower my times.”
Ian Paul Grech won a bronze medal in the long jump event.
The experienced jumper leaped 6.79 metres to finish third overall. The gold medal was won by Thorleifur Einar Leiffson on 7.26 while Grigoris Nikolaou took silver on 7.18m.
“I am happy to have won my sixth medal in a GSSE,” Grech told the Times of Malta.
“Today, the priority was to try and get the best possible result and I’m quite pleased how it went. Now the priority is to manage my fitness ahead of Saturday’s programme where I am scheduled to compete in the triple jump.
“Tomorrow, I will do a good recovery and receive some much-needed treatment to ensure I can challenge for another medal.”
Debut medal
The first medal of the day came from the 1,500m race where Gina McNamara had to settle for a silver medal, ahead of her young team-mate Mireya Bugeja.
Iceland’s Vera Bertemes took gold in 4:22.62 with McNamara placing second in 4:29.52.
Bugeja, in her first GSSE, took bronze in 4:33.30.
“Winning medals is all that matters in a GSSE, and that is what we are trying to do this week,” McNamara said.
“Silver and bronze are a great result for us, and we are just pushing for more.”
On her part, Bugeja was delighted with the result and revealed her pride to be sharing the podium with McNamara, whom she describes as her inspiration.
“I am so happy with the result,” Bugeja said.
“I am pleased to have been competing in a race with Gina, who has inspired me so so much and pushed me to get this fantastic result for me in my first ever GSSE.”
Jared Micallef, who was celebrating his birthday yesterday, missed out on gold in the men’s race as he placed second in 3:56.24, behind Andorra’s Pol Moya who topped the standings in 3:47.23.
“It’s quite tricky to manage your fitness in these Games with so many races happening so quickly and fast,” Micallef said.
“I had three races so far here, and in all of them I won the silver medal. But now I have one more, and the goal is very clear: I want to win gold and will do everything I can to reach this objective.”
In the 5,000 men’s race Simon Spiteri was just beaten to the post for a bronze medal when he placed fourth in 14:47.94. Carles Lozano, of Andorra, was third in 14:46.68. The gold medal was again won by the hosts as Nahuel Carabana Valenzuela (14:42.41).
Luke Micallef, who tried to impose a high pace to try and split the Maltese athletes’ rivals, placed sixth in 14:56.76.
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