The MAAA took part in the Annual Congress organised by the European Athletic Coaches Association in Moscow between the 2nd and 4th November. The sole Maltese participant was Mark Farrugia. The theme of this year’s Congress was The Winning Difference: Focus - Beijing Preparation. The MAAA circulated information regarding two forthcoming events: the first Miniathlon of the season which is being held on the 10 November at Marsa, and the Second Day of the MAAA Road Running League which is due to be held at Maqluba on the 17th of November.

Between the 25th and 27th of October the MAAA organised a Seminar on Middle and Distance Running. The Seminar was conducted by the well-known British coach Peter Thompson, who currently holds the post of Senior Education Manager within the IAAF. During the Seminar, Peter Thompson gave talks about new thinking on the lactate system and its implications when applied to interval training. Mr Thompson’s presentations were followed up by a number of practical sessions which were mainly intended for young developing athletes and their coaches. On the 25th October, the MAAA in conjunction with St Patrick’s AC organized an open forum on local Middle and Distance Running.

On the 21st of October the MAAA organised the first day of the 2007 / 8 Road Running League. The races were held at Zebbug and attracted a total of 237 runners in the various age groups. The winners were the following: Haithem Kesheim and Carol Walsh (seniors), Chris Vassallo and Monalisa Camilleri (juniors), Christian Luke Chetcuti and Hannah Pace (youths), and Steve Camilleri and Charlene Formosa (cadets). On the 22nd of October, the MAAA organized it first meeting for the Clubs’ Representative Committee. The agenda focused on Road Running, Cross Country and the athlete of the Year Award.

Between the 10th and 14th of October the MAAA hosed the EAA Calendar Conference. The Conference was held at the Dolmen Hotel in Qawra and attracted over 300 delegates from the various European federations. One of the highlights of the conference was the Gala Dinner held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre which was impressively decked out for the occasion. Before the start of the Dinner, the EAA presented awards to the European Athletes of the Year Tero Pitkamaaki and Blanka Valsic together with the European Rising Stars Andrew Howe and Jessica Ennis. Another highlight of the Conference was the meeting for Presidents and General Secretaries in which the EAA outlined plans to revamp its competition system. The Small States of Europe meeting saw the participation of a new member federation - Montenegro. In concomitance with the EAA Calendar Conference, on the 14th of October the MAAA in conjunction with Mellieha AC organised a 5km road race at Bugibba.

The MAAA sent a circular confirming its Road Running and Cross Country Calendar for 2007 / 2008. The MAAA indicated that it will be holding a Cross Country event for schoolchildren on the Wednesday 12th December. On the 3rd of October the MAAA held an Annual Awards Night for Senior winners of the 2006 /7 MAAA Road Running League and the MAAA Aggregates. James Douglas and Carol Walsh were the overall winners of the 2006/7 Road Running League while Rachid Chouhal and Therese Mallia were the winners of the 2007 Track and Field Aggregate competition.

On 18 September, the MAAA held an Extraordinary General Meeting in order to introduce new rules to the MAAA Statute. Rules concerning the use of an athlete’s image  in sponsorship / commercial agreements, the procedure regarding the election of the President and the General Secretary of the MAAA, and the setting up of a Clubs’ Representative Committee were unanimously approved. On the 19th and 20th of September, 19 young Maltese athletes took part in the European Kids Athletics Meeting in Brno, Czech Republic. Our athletes won 5 medals in this competition. The medal winners were Jana Pace Cocks (60m bronze, 300m bronze), Tamara Vella (Long Jump bronze), Christian Luke Chetcuti (800m silver), 4 x 60m Girls’ Relay Team (Jana Pace Cocks, Tamara Vella,  Julie Ann Grech, Janice Borg).  On the 23rd of September MAAA officials were on duty at the Attard 10k Road Race.

The Malta AAA announced its team for the European Kids’ Games being held in Brno on the 19th and 20th of September. The team consists of 19 athletes. They are the following:
Boys: Borg Francesco, Borg Jeremy, Bugeja Miguel , Camilleri Steve , Gauci Jean, Chetcuti Christian Luke Vella Daniel, Zammit Robert 
Girls: Borg Janice, Farrugia Rebecca, Gauci Borda Daniela, Gerada Martina, Grech Julie Ann, Pace Cocks Jana, Sciberras Marija, Tabone Nadia, Vassallo Annalise, Vella Tamara, Zammit Yasmine 
The IAAF Level I Coaching Course conducted by Mr Quinton Botes from Namibia came to a successful end on the 14th of September. All seventeen candidates qualified as IAAF Level I Coaches, nine of whom achieved eligibility for Level 2. The seventeen coaches are the following:
Abela Mark, Atanasio Mildred, Bezzina Natalino, Bonello Mario, Bonnici Alexandra, Borg Carm, Borg Dominic, Camilleri Paul Anthony, Cauchi Rosalie, Chircop Gabriel, Ciappara Katya, Degaetano Gerald, Grech Marilyn, Grech Andy, Mercieca Sue, Tabone Rose, Vella Philip
On the 12 of September the MAAA organised its final Track and Field Meeting of the Season. This was the 3rd Summer Meeting. Results are posted on the web-site.

The IAAF Level I Coaching Course being organised by the MAAA kicked off to a very positive start on the 1st of September with seventeen participants seeking to qualify as Level 1 coaches. Mr Quinton Botes from Namibia, who is the IAAF Course Director had words of praise for the course organisation and the level of commitment shown by the participants. Mr Botes has proven to be an inspirational lecturer and for the first week has been ably assisted by the IAAF Course Lecturer Ms Melanie Curds from the U.K. This week the  MAAA confirmed that it will be taking part in the Kids’ European Athletics Meeting, Brno, Czech Republic (18 / 19 September). The 19 young athletes selected were athletes born in 1992, 1993 and 1994. The MAAA also confirmed the organisation of the 3rd Track and Field Summer Meeting which is to be held on the 12th of September. A number of outstanding performances brought the 11th IAAF World Championships to a close; long will we remember names such as Tyson Gay, Allyson Felix, Jeremy Wariner, Irving Saladino and Tero Pitkamaki

The 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka are currently the focus of worldwide attention. Malta’s representatives Darren Gilford and Charlene Attard were in action in the 100m. As expected both athletes failed to go beyond the first round. Darren,who ran on the 25th of August, clocked a time of 10.92 while Charlene who ran a day later managed a time of 12.06. In the Men’s 100m, the American sprinter Tyson Gay defeated world record holder Asafa Powell, while Veronica Campbell won the Women’s 100m by the narrowest of margins. The Ethiopian runner Keninisa Bekila showed an incredible turn of speed in the Men’s 10000m to win the title for the third time in succession. The IAAF World Championships will come to an end on the 2nd of September.

MAAA announced that preparations for the EAA Calendar Conference that is to be held in Malta between the 11th and 14th of October 2007 are now at an advanced stage. Volunteers wishing to help in the organization of this important event may contact Ms Tanya Xuereb (MAAA Council Member) on mob: 99895951. On 17 August the MAAA organised the 2nd Track and Field Summer Meeting. The meeting attracted a good number of young athletes some of whom will be taking part in the European Kids’ Meeting in Brno, Czech Republic. Results of the 2nd Summer Meeting are posted on the MAAA Web-site. MAAA officials were on duty in the St Julian’s 5k organised on 19 August. Jonathan Balzan and Carmen Hili were the individual winners of this race.

The Malta AAA has announced that its team in the 11th IAAF World Championships being held in Osaka between the 25th August and 2nd September will consist of Darren Gilford and Charlene Attard. Both athletes will be taking part in the 100m. In Osaka, the MAAA will be represented at the IAAF Congress by MAAA President Mr Anthony Chircop. The MAAA has also announced the names of the IAAF Lecturers of  the IAAF Level I Coaching Course being held in Malta between the 1st and 14th of September. The Course Director will be Mr Quinton S. Botes from Namibia and Ms Mel Curds and Mr Scott Grace from Great Britain. The MAAA announced that the closing date for this course is 25th August. The MAAA has this week informed clubs about the MAAA Summer Meeting 2 being held on the 17th of August.

The MAAA announced the organization of an IAAF Level 1 Coaching Course which will be held at Marsa between the 1st and 14th September.  The course will be held on a  full-time basis and course participants will be obliged to attend both morning and afternoon sessions. The course will be a mixture of practical and theory sessions and will give participants the tools to coach all track and field events at a basic level.  On the 1st of August the MAAA organised the first of its Summer Track and Field Meetings. A number of athletes including Mark Anthony Farrugia (300m), Tamara Vella (Long Jump), Jeremy Borg (Long Jump) and Vittorio Aquilina (High Jump)  left a good impression. On the road, Jonathan Balzan and Carmen Hili were winners in the 2nd of the B’kara St Joseph 5k Summer League Series.

This week the Maltese athletes in the EYOF (European Youth Olympic Festival) squad in Belgrade achieved very good results. Francesca Xuereb made it all the way to the final of the 400m and finished fourth in a time of 55.47. Her twin sister Martina made it to the semi-final of the 200m after running a windy 25.03 in her heat. The other two Maltese athletes in Belgrade were Alessandra Pace and Andy Grech both of whom participated in the Long Jump. The former managed a jump of 5.31m while the latter had a best jump of 6.33m. In the FISEC Games in Hungary, Andrew Cassar Torreggiani won the gold medal in the Long Jump while Mona Lisa Camilleri won silver medals in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m. On the local front at the Marsa, Lara Scerri and Stephen Moghrabi were the female and male winners in the Open Pentathlon, while in the Youth’s Pentathlon Jana Pace Cocks and Mark Anthony Farrugia triumphed in the male and female categories.

Age Groups and First Five Meetings on MAAA Track and Field Calendar

In view of examinations and study commitments that might affect athletes in the lower age-groups, MAAA Council has decided make some changes relating to when the different age-groups can compete in the first five meetings on the MAAA Track and Field Calendar.

The Programme has been amended as follows.

On the 13th of December the MAAA organised their  Annual Dinner at the Diplomat Hotel in Sliema. During the dinner, Darren Gilford and Charlene Attard received awards as the Overall Male and Female Athlete of the Year 2006. Awards of Athlete of the Year were also presented to the following athletes who distinguished themselves in their respective age categories:
Senior Men: Darren Gilford;
Junior Men: Jeandre Mallia;
Intermediate Men: Andy Grech;
Youth Men: Sacha Dunlop;
Cadets Boys: Jeremy Borg;
Senior Women: 4x100m National Team (Charlene Attard, Diane Borg, Therese Mallia, Angie Mangion);
Junior Women: Charlene Attard;
Intermediate Women: Diane Borg;
Youths Women: Martina Xuereb and Francesca Xuereb;
Cadets Girls: Tamara Vella. Finally, on the night, the MAAA also presented certificates to a number of officials who in 2006 successfully  completed a basic MAAA Technical Officials’ Course.

Click here to view an image of Darren Gilford and CharleneAttard

The MAAA 2006/7 Road Running League started at Zebbug on 22 October 2006. Despite hot , humid conditions James Douglas the English runner representing Birkirkara St Joseph opened up a significant lead on his main rivals by winning the first race Men’s 10 km in 33:29. Charles Cilia (Mellieha AC) and Gerald Grech (AS Libertas) were almost a full minute behind. In the Women’s Race, former European Vets Champion Carol Walsh had a good outing and  was first in 37:22, while her team-mate Lisa Marie Bezzina was second in a fraction outside 38 minutes. The third women was St Patrick’s runner Carmen Hili. After the first day, Mellieha and Pembroke Athleta lead the Men’s and Women’s rankings respectively. There were a number of other races for younger athletes. For full results click on results.

The MAAA has confirmed its Road Running and Cross Country calendar for season 2006-7

The Malta AAA has confirmed its Road Running and Cross Country calendar for season 2006-7. The first race will be held on Sunday 22 nd October at Zebbug. (Open 10km race starts at 8:00 a.m.)

Interesting innovations in this year's programme are the following:

•  In the Senior 10km Road Running League an athlete's final position will be determined on his / her performance in 3 out of 5 races (rather than 4 as in previous years)
•  The inclusion of age category awards for athletes between 20 and 35.
•  In the Senior 10km League there will be cash awards based on performance rather than placing.
•  In the categories for Young athletes the MAAA has for the first time decided to organise a League that will include both Road Running and Cross Country. To qualify for the final classification athletes will have to take part in at least 2 Road Races and 2 Cross Country Races.
•  For full programmme click on Calendar.

MAAA Young Athletes in Brno

17 young athletes represented the Malta AAA in a Kids' Athletics Competition that took place in Brno ( Czech Republic ) on the 21 st and 22 nd of September. This competition brought together almost 700 athletes from a number of European countries.

The Maltese athletes were the following:
Jana Pace Cocks, Maria Sciberras, Yasmin Zammit, Martina Xuereb, Francesca Xuereb, Rebecca Sare, Tamara Vella, Dorianne Micallef, Rebecca Farrugia, Julie Anne Grech, Maria Mizzi, Ingrid Abela, Michael Sullivan, Dunlop Sacha, Andrew Cassar Torreggiani, Jeremy Borg, Ezekiel Micallef.

The Maltese athletes won a number of medals in this competition including two golds won by Martina Xuereb and the Girls' 1991 4x60m Team.