Shafiqua places second in 600m in Germany

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ first Olympics finalist, Shafiqua Maloney finished second in the Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) 600 metres, breaking a national record, and landing herself at No.7 on the world all-time list.

Maloney finished the race behind 800 metres Olympic Bronze medallist, Mary Moraa, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany, on September 1, 2024. Moraa, who also won gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Youth Games, and bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the 800 metres, set a world record at the ISTAF with a time of 1:21:63, while Maloney set a national record and personal best of 1:22:98.

Maloney, who frequently updates her supporters via social media, posted about her success saying, “I participated in the 600m today and it was good to be back at that distance.”

The Vincentian athlete said that her time was good enough for a few entries in the journal. Maloney’s performance landed her No. 7 on the world all-time list.

Trailing behind Maloney was two-time European Athletics medallist Alica Schmidt of Germany. Prior to the ISTAF race, Maloney finished sixth at the Wanda Diamond League’s 800 meter race on August 22, 2024. She clocked a time of 1:59:28, while Moraa won the race with a time of 1:57:91. Maloney represented St Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2024 Paris Olympics placing fourth in the 800m final.