Emerging talents from 34 nations, national champions, and Olympic athletes are scheduled to meet at the Matthew Micallef St. John Stadium in Marsa for the EAP Malta International 2025, which is set for Saturday, June 14.
Organised by Pembroke Athleta Athletics & Triathlon Club and component of the World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger series, the event is now in its sixth edition. Organizers estimate this year’s event will have more than 150 foreign athletes and officials, therefore placing it at its best ever World Athletics ranking.
Among the top players is Tatiana Melnyk, a Ukrainian sprinter and threetime Olympian who has won gold at both the Balkan Championships and the World University Games. Fresh from winning gold at the Small Nations Games in Andorra, Malta’s own Beppe Grillo will represent the host country in the sprints.
Originally scheduled to compete, Shi Yuhao, a Diamond League and Asian Games medallist from China currently ranked 32nd in the world in the long jump, was unable to attend due to visa denial.
Other well-known entries are:
European 200m finalist, Czechia’s Tomas Nemejc
Defending 400m champion and meet record holder Keenan Blake of the Netherlands
Molly Scott (Ireland), former world medallist and defending 100m champion
400m specialist Carys McAuley (Scotland); 400m specialist
Dániel Eszes, Hungary, hurdler
Rising track athletes Tetiana Keysen and Viktoria Baranivska (Ukraine)
Oke Tosin (Nigeria), multiple African champion and Olympic triple jump finalist
With Event Director Norman Saliba saying the athlete lineup is “the strongest the event has ever hosted,” organisers predict extremely competitive sprint and hurdle competitions.
“This is a great chance for Maltese athletes to challenge themselves against global competition on home soil,” Saliba said.
