Newsroom / CNA
Five Cypriot athletes have finished 2026 ranked among the world’s top 20 performers in their events at U18 level, according to figures released by the Cyprus Amateur Athletic Association (KOEAS).
The strongest result came from Marina Hadjicosta, who ended the year as the world’s leading U18 discus thrower with a best mark of 56.54 metres.
Hadjicosta also produced two significant international results during the season. She won gold in the discus at the European U18 Championships before taking bronze at the World U20 Championships. Her season also included a 14.63m throw in the shot put, placing her 13th in the world in that event.
Hammer throwers Anthi Apostolidou and Anastasios Maratheftis also secured top-20 world rankings across different weight categories.
Apostolidou sits fifth in the world in the U18 women’s 4kg hammer with 58.57m. Her 64.88m effort with the 3kg hammer puts her 14th globally.
Maratheftis ranks sixth in the senior men’s 7.26kg hammer after throwing 56.51m. His 71.70m with the 5kg hammer places him 18th.
Two athletes born in 2011 have also made an impression despite being among the youngest competitors in the rankings.
Marios Panayiotou is 15th in the U18 200m after recording 20.96 seconds, a performance that set new Cyprus U18 and U20 records. His time is the second fastest in the world among athletes born in 2011 or later and the fastest recorded in Europe for that age group.
Marilena Papanikolaou is ranked 13th in the U18 long jump following her 6.20m leap, which established a new Cyprus U18 record. Among athletes born in 2011 or later, the mark ranks third globally and in Europe.
KOEAS also listed several other strong performances from Cypriot athletes during 2026.
Katerina Karagianni recorded 11.64 seconds in the 100m, putting her 55th in the world and 12th in Europe. Andreas Savva finished the 110m hurdles in 13.75 seconds, ranking 55th globally and 25th in Europe.
Panayiotou also appears in the U18 100m rankings, where his 10.55-second performance places him 78th worldwide.
The rankings compiled by KOEAS are based on the leading performances recorded around the world and in Europe during 2026. Several of the Cypriot athletes included in the list are young enough to compete in the U18 category again in 2027, giving them another opportunity to improve their positions on the international stage.
