The 3rd ranking & qualifiers weightlifting event took place on 16th September at the Cottonera Sports complex, where the competition was held for the very last time in the multi-purpose hall before it is demolished to be refurbished into an indoor pool.
The event was of particular importance as it served as a qualifying event for the local athletes for upcoming international events. Furthermore, it also served as a preparatory event for numerous athletes as they get ready for approaching major international meets.
Highlighted results from this particular meet came from athletes of all ages, including 13 year old Tenishia Thorton who managed to break records in not only the youth 44kg category, but also the U-20 48kg category a 7 year old record in the senior 48kg category. She ended with a 38kg snatch and a 52kg clean and jerk, totalling at 90kg and 6 national records. Tenishia Thorton is one of the athletes who will be participating in an international event in Switzerland this October. Here she will be accompanied Shaun Ciantar, another promising athlete who performed excellently this weekend. Shaun, -77kg category, finished with personal best lifts all round with a 95kg snatch and a clean and jerk of 125kg. Roberta Tabone, who was not competing locally this weekend, will finish off the Switzerland tournament team.
More results came from Yazmin Zammit Stevens, who successfully lifted all 6 attempts, finishing with 83kg snatch, 103kg clean and jerk and a total of 186kg, breaking 2 national records in the process. Yazmin, who competed as a 69kg athlete, only weighed in at 66kg. This confirms that she will be moving into the new 64kg category that will come into effect for the first time this November at the World Championships in Turkmenistan. Here she will be the first event Maltese athlete to participate on the World stage. However, this will not be her first World paltform this year. This week she will be participating at the World University Championships in Poland as part of her preparation for the bigger event in November. In Poland she will be accompanied by Rodmar Pulis, another athlete who had a great competition this weekend. Rodmar Pulis finished with an easy 105kg snatch and 136kg clean and jerk, showing he has a lot more to give next weekend in Poland.
Youth athlete Shelby Mangion Vassallo, who will be representing Malta at the Youth Olympic Games this October, has continuously showed improvement in her lifts, with no exception this weekend. She finished with personal lifts all round, ending with 64kg snatch, 77kg clean and jerk and totalling at 141kg. Shelby broke 10 national records in the youth and U-20 age categories. Shelby’s preparation for the Youth Olympic games has proved to be very successful and promising.
Apart from the athletes competing internationally, other national athletes had a lot of success at the local meet. Namely, U-20 athlete Andy Grech who finished with 95kg snatch and 115kg clean and jerk, closely missing his last attempt at 120kg because of an elbow press out. Youth athlete, Tristan Zammit finished with 84kg snatch and 90kg clean and jerk, improving the result of his personal best with 22 points. Youngster Kyle Camilleri, finished on top of the cadet group where he finished with a 30kg snatch and 39kg clean and jerk.
This local event also marked the last day for international coach Tamas Feher in Malta. He has worked with the Maltese national team for the past 3 weeks, thanks to the Malta Olympic Committee. Furthermore a week training camp for local top youth athletes will be held end of this month in Valencia Spain
Rodmar Pulis and Yazmin Zammit Stevens will be travelling to Poland on Tuesday, where they will be joined with national team coach Jesmond Caruana on Friday. Both athletes will be competing on Saturday 22nd September in the World University Championships