Age-Group and National Records at Island Games, GSSE and Time Trials

During the last week of May a group of seven swimmers represented Malta in the 15^th Edition of the Jeux des Iles held in Palermo. This competition between Islands was open to male swimmers born 1995/96 and female swimmers born 1997/1998. The boys team was composed of Jeffrey Galea, Matthew Galea, Julian Harding and Raoul Stafrace whilst the girls were Michelle Azzopardi, Pia Grech and Amy Micallef. Apart from various personal best times achieved by all the swimmers, Amy Micallef managed to win a Silver Medal in the women’s 200m IM and establish a new age-group C record with a time of 2:35.98. Julian Harding also managed to establish a new age-group C record in the boys category with a time of 2:23.41. The Malta team at these Sicily Island Games was under the guidance of Gail Rizzo. Next edition of these Island Games will be held in Sardegna in May 2012. Results may be viewed on the game’s website www.jeuxdesiles2011.com.

Then in the first week of June it was the National team’s turn to make Malta proud at the Games of the Small States of Europe in Liechtenstein under the guidance of swimming National Coach Andy Colburn. The Malta National swimming team was composed of Andrea Agius, Neil Agius, Edward Caruana Dingli, Andrew Chetcuti, Mark Sammut, Davina Mangion, Melinda Sue Micallef, Nicola Muscat and Talisa Pace. On the first day of the swimming competition Andrew Chetcuti won a historic first Silver medal in the men’s category at such games in the 100m freestyle with National Record time of 52.00.  On the second day of competition it was the women’s 4 x 200 m freestyle relay team made of four above-mentioned swimmers to win the Silver medal in this event with a new National record time of 8:58.15. On the third day of competition it was once again Andrew Chetcuti who won the Bronze medal in the men’s 50m Freestyle event with a National Record time of 23.67. The full list of National records broken during these Games is listed below.

Last Saturday 11th June, the last Time-Trials for swimming season 2010/11 were held at the National Pool Complex and once again Age-Group records were not lacking. Maltese swimmers taking part established four new age-group records as the build-up to next month’s National Championships continues.

Matthew Galea, of Sliema, this season coached by Isabelle Zarb swam the 50m backstroke in 30.51 to erase the previous Group C best of 30.66 set by Matthew Zammit in July 2010.The other three age-group records were all achieved by Neptunes swimmers, under the tutelage of coach Gail Rizzo. In Group B, Laura Demicoli swam the 200m fly in 2:54.40 (previous best: Elaine Farrugia 2:54.51, October 1996). Neil Muscat, who is having a truly outstanding swimming season, then swam 200m IM in 2:30.51 (previous best: 2:31.15) and in Group C Julian Harding covered the 100m breaststroke in 1:11.20 (previous best: 1:12.48, Daniel Galea, December 2008).

Local swimming clubs are now preparing for the National Swimming Championships to be organised by the ASA of Malta on the weekend of 1st to 3rd July.