Malta Weightlifting Association

On Saturday 23rd April, the MWA organized the annual Malta Open Championships, were Tenishia Thornton and Shaun Ciantar won the overall titles for the day. Almost a tradition for every single competition now, 16 year old Tenishia Thornton managed some new national records and therefore competition personal bests at the meet. She finished with a 79kg snatch and 98kg clean in the 59kg weight category. She not only finished 1st in the U17 and U20 age categories, but also won the title for the seniors with a whopping 248 points.  Kim Camilleri Lagana finished 1st in the U15 age categories and followed Thornton in the ranking all the way to the senior age group. She finished with a 48kg snatch and 63kg clean and jerk which gave her a total of 198 points. Elisia Scicluna finished in 3rd place for the senior female age group after snatching 75kg, clean and jerking 98kg and a total of 183 points.

Other noticeable female results came from Aaliyah Gatt u finished right behind Kim Camilleri Lagana in the U15 age category. She managed a 43kg snatch along with a 60kg clean and jerking earning her 178points. Kaya Curmi inguanez finishied in 3rd place for the U15 age category with 153 points.

The male overall title was won by Shaun Ciantar who finished with a 112kg snatch and 130kg clean and jerk in the 81kg weight category. His 242kg total earned him 297 points which was only 4 points ahead of second place finisher Anton Micallef. Micallef managed a snatch of 110kg, clean and jerk of 137kg which gave him 293 points. Vlad Baldacchino, who is still recovering from an injury, managed a 3rd place finish with 282 points.

Youth athlete and NSS student Rylee Borg had an excellent competition, with personal bests lifts across the board. Borg managed a 97kg snatch and 118kg clean and jerk which also meant he managed the qualifying total for the European Junior Championships. His 277 point finish also placed him first in the U17 and U20 age categories. 

Another NSS athlete finished first in the cadet age category. Nathan Mifsud managed a 34kg snatch and 48kg clean and jerk earning him 159 points.