Team Malta in Action: Kai Azzopardi finishes 4th in Commonwealth Youth Games Debut
Keira Attard, Ryan Muscat give strong performances.
The Maltese contingent at the Commonwealth Youth Games, currently taking place in Trinidad and Tobago finished their first day of competition on a high when the Maltese Olympic Committee selection for these Games produced highly satisfactory results in the Super Sprint Triathlon race held at the Buccoo Beach Facility.
Competing amongst 25 triathletes, Kai Azzopardi and Ryan Muscat raced in the men’s category in sweltering heat.
Kai Azzopardi’s performance saw him one step away from the podium, when he was narrowly edged by Jack Latham of Australia. Azzopardi finished the race in fourth position in 30 minutes 53 seconds. Azzopardi, who exited the water in 10th place, slowly climbed up the ranks in the bike leg, which saw him enter transition in fourth place. In the run, Azzopardi looked close to getting third place but was pipped to the post by Australia’s Latham.
The race was won by Luke Holmes of Jersey in 29 minutes 47 seconds ahead of Alex Robin of Scotland and Jack Latham of Australia. Ryan Muscat finished in 17th position. Muscat climbed up thirteenth place in the bike, having finished the swim in 18th place but slipped down to 17th place to finish in a time of 33:29.
Earlier on in the morning, Keira Attard also produced a good result for Malta when she finished in 11th place among 21 athletes. Attard was exited the water in 16th place by slowly started moving up finishing the bike leg in 13th place and subsequently moving up two places to finish in 11th place. Attard finished the race in 36 minutes 18 seconds. The competition was won by Aspen Anderson of Australia in 32 minutes 53 seconds before Jessica Heep of Scotland and Maja Brinkmann of Namibia.
Team Malta, represented by Azzopardi and Attard will compete in the Mixed Relay Triathlon on Tuesday 8th August. Competitions will also be held in Buccoo Bay.
Team Malta is being led by Chef de Mission and MOC Director Maria Vella-Galea. Athletes are being assisted by Warren Muscat.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Commonwealth Sport
