Weighing in at a trim 74.4kgs, Matthew Muscat Inglott (above & below) took Charles Degiorgio's Squat and Total records in the 75kg category with his 170kg Squat and 520kg Total. Muscat Inglott now has 11 national records under his belt in three separate weight categories. With such big fluctuations in body weight over the 2008 season, he has some serious decisions to make about where he will focus his efforts in 2009, be it the 75, 82.5, or even the 90 kg category.
Having dropped into the 67.5kg category Charles Degiorgio (below) was well placed to mount an assault on Sean Galea's National records. This he managed to do in the Squat with his impressive 162.5kg lift, but only managed to get agonizingly close in the Bench and Deadlift. The muscular Degiorgio has significantly sharpened his game and is steadily climbing up the national rankings, he now occupies the 4th spot behind Galea.
The menacing 125kg lifter from Zurrieq itself Emanuel Schembri (below) was lifting on home ground. He delighted the local crowd with a new national Squat record of 230kgs, breaking his own previous record by 5kgs. Keep in mind Schembri is a Junior world record holder in the Squat. He has truly established himself as one of our premier lifters and looks set for another colourful year on the international circuit.
Having just turned 20, Kurt Bullock (below) is now officially a Junior lifter and a strong contender for this age category on the international platform. His diligent training regimen is yielding dividends with good steady improvement each time he steps up to compete. The solid youngster totaled 460 in the 75kg category.
Marvin Cilia (below) made his comeback after last lifting in the 2008 National Championships. His perfect squat technique rewarded him with a flawless 205kg lift. A couple of kilograms less in bodyweight would make him a significant contender in the 100kg class. Up and coming lifter Edward Attard lived up to all expectations and delivered an exceptional performance. The methodical lifter is a force to be reckoned with in the 75kg class, and will be gunning for the title in April alongside Kurt Bullock and the rest of the field. That should be a great lift-off between the titans, just as it was last year. A return from Elton Caruana would be all we need to really make it an unforgettable battle. He is indeed training, but it's anybodies guess when he will decide to step forwards.
George Bonanno (below) exploded onto the scene with a mystifying debut. He shocked all those present by nipping at the heels of his more experienced counterparts in the 75kg class. Bonanno is literally bursting with potential and can go the distance if he only sticks with his training regimen under the watchful eye of his coach Charles Degiorgio. He showed great aptitude under the bar and a killer instinct on his way to a very respectable 422.5kg total. Very impressive.
Also making his debut, Chris Schinas (below) showed enormous potential with a 342.5kg total in the 67.5kg class. Considering he is being coached by Matthew Muscat Inglott, he has the tools to carry his craft all the way to a convincing showing at the nationals in April. Jean-Luc Micallef registered considerable improvement in this, his second outing to the platform. As always he did not disappoint with his squatting when he posted a very competitive 125kg lift. He too will be looking to make a presence in April in the 67.5kg class. Homegrown talent Antoine Zahra is just oozing power from his solid 98kg frame. After taking up powerlifting only a few weeks ago, he bravely stepped up to make a convincing debut. A little work on technique will allow him to exploit the great power at his disposal over the coming months.
The awesome Mario “The Monster” Mifsud (below) dropped by for a token performance by competing solely in the Bench Press. To the delight of a thrilled crowd Mifsud smashed his own Bench Press record in the 125kg category, raising the mark from 170kgs up to 185kgs with apparent ease. Mariel Incorvaja stepped forth as the second Maltese female ever to register a total in an official powerlifting competition. She deadlifted true to form with a great 130kg pull.
Here follow the official results, with new national records highlighted in red. Please note that the MDPFA official website has been updated with all new records and national rankings.
Tony Camilleri was head referee and did a splendid job alongside Adelia Saliba and Sean Galea who all made some good fair calls. Special thanks goes out to the Feelgood Wellness Spa as the main sponsors, and Alex Zammit for going out of his way to deliver a new deadlifting platform in the nick of time! Thanks Fonzi!!
