The Malta Weightlifting Association (MWA) has successfully organized the annual competition for clubs at the Cottonera Sports Complex on Sunday, July 13th, and in doing so the Cottonera Weightlifting Centre lived up to its reputation and role as the base for the sport in Malta. This meant that the overall winners of this event were Cottonera WL Centre at first place with 3648 points, followed by, MCAST Naxxar, Starmax and CrossFit 356. It was both a great competition for the spectators but also one for the sport’s future on the Maltese Islands, with nearly all athletes registered personal best and 23 national records were broken on the day especially in the female’s categories. To get the competition going, the cadet’s category was first to take to the stage, where the athletes who participated gave good performances in both attempts and overall technique. Rylee Borg was successful in all six of his attempts which put him in first place, while Luke Brincat Stellini saw to his first ever performance from the new weightlifting centre of children in Mellieha.
In the male youth competition some brilliant results came from Kieran Mifsud 243 points, while also breached 2 national records in the 94kg category both in youths and in juniors with 93kg snatch. Malcolm Camilleri placed in 2nd with 207 points followed by Owen Bugeja 204, both athletes are from the Cottonera WL Centre. In this section of the competition, many of the athletes improved their previous results substantially, with Matthew Grech securing 190 points followed by Kirstin Coleiro with 173, and Andy Grech with 157.
In the youths new comer’s competition good performance by Leo Zammit and Gary Buttigieg both shows their potential in the art of lifting weights.
In the men seniors some good results came from two team mates from Cottonera WL centre Rodmar Pulis and Martin Pisani both lifting the total of 230kg with Pulis the lightest in body scoring 283 points and Pisani 257 points.
Further positive results came from MCAST Naxxar club, with Chris Schranz lifting a total of 165kg and therefore securing 180 points, followed by Calvin Briffa who secure 166 points and two team mates from CrossFit365 – Matthew Scerri and Sean Cutajar securing 164 and 158 points, respectively.
In the female competition a feast of national records were broken best athlete in this group was Jessica Edge lifting 143 kg and break 9 national records in the 58 kg category and scoring 213 points. Nicole Gatt of Starmax gave a brilliant performance lifting the total of 121 kg and break other 9 national records in the 53kg category scoring 184 points. Other 3 national records came from Sarah Grixti of Cottonera WL Centre lifting the total of 104 kg, followed by Marilyn Grech lifting the total of 75kg and Beatrix Galea 70kg.
Many local Maltese athletes are attending a three weeks local training camp organized at the cottonera sport complex this camp will continued till the end of this week. This camp is a big benefits to the athletes especially those that are in their final preparations to present our country.
Jessica Edge will be in action next week in the Commonwealth games in Glasgow, accompanied Stephan Borg. President Jesmond Caruana is selected for the duty of technical official in same games, while Nicole Gatt will participate in the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, next month thanks to (MOC) Malta Olympic Committee and (KMS) Malta Sport council.