World Athletics Day

On May Day, a special event was held to introduce athletics to children. 

These ‘Kids Athletics’ based on a special programme designed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was enjoyed by a good number of youngsters. Next, between the 3 and 4 May, 544 schoolchildren took part at the annual athletics events held at the Matthew Micallef Athletic Stadium Marsa, with the collaboration of the Sports Promotion Unit of the Ministry of Education. 

The events saw children born in the years 1998 and 1999 competing on the first day – hailing from 15 schools, nine of which being state schools. Older children born in the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 – 320 athletes in all - competed on the 4 May, representing 18 schools, 10 being state run. 

Enthusiasm and keen competition, especially sharp on the first day, ensured that the relays, coming at the end of the competition, determined where the team shield would finally land. 

Such was the competition that only one points divided the first three teams among the schools for girls, with St Teresa College finishing first on 30 points, St Monica School Sta Venera second and St Thomas More College Zejtun third, the latter on equal points but having one less first placed than St Monica’s. 

The team event for boys saw St Aloysius College once again triumphant, their 99 points a comfortable margin ahead of the re-emergent Stella Maris College on 77 points. 

Savio College were third on 73, just a point ahead of San Anton School.  At the Senior Events, St Monica made amends for the narrow miss by their juniors when they edged out San Anton by one point, on 71 points. Third with 69 points were St Teresa College. 

As part of the commemoration to mark the World Athletics Day, the Association also held separate events for schoolchildren born in 1995. Besides awarding the winning school teams with the commemorative Shields made especially for the occasion, the first three placing at each event received medals and each winner was presented with a lapel badge, a poster and commemorative tee shirt especially made available by the IAAF. 

Lastly, on the days specially designated by the IAAF, the 14 and 15 May, which also coincided with the National Championships, each athlete finishing first in the international ‘Youth’ category, was also awarded the same prizes as given to the schoolchildren earlier on in the month.