No less than five national records were broken over the weekend by two Maltese athletes competing in the United States.
Rachela Pace has set new national records in both the triple jump and long jump while competing at the American Outdoor Championships in Charlotte. Her impressive 6.48m leap in the long jump earned her a silver medal at this prestigious event, while extending her list of national records.
Representing the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Pace also clinched gold in the triple jump with a remarkable 13.41m effort. Aged 21, Pace has won multiple national championships and was named a 2024 NCAA All-American – a prestigious recognition awarded to top collegiate athletes across the United States. The two jumps have also ensured that Pace has already secured qualification for the upcoming European U23 Athletics Championships being held in Bergen, Norway.
Three further records were set by Clare McNamara, during the Big Ten Championships held in Eugene, United States. McNamara’s achievements came in the throws, with a 14.67m result in the shotput and a 51.54m javelin throw, while also obliterating the previous heptathlon record as she placed eight in her event, with 4907 points.
National Youth Championships
This weekend, Malta’s up-and-coming athletes will take centre stage as they compete in the National Youth Championship — a key event on the domestic sporting calendar, the last local event before the Games for the Small States of Europe in Andorra.
Photo – Darren Micallef
