Bahhad retains overall lead

Abdelghani Bahhad, the 18-year-old Moroccan runner who breasted the tape first in the opening leg of the International Challenge Marathon on Friday at Rabat, yesterday repeated his feat after clocking the best time for the 6km race in Birzeb-buga, the second stage of the event.

Bahhad covered the distance in 19:26, 12 seconds faster than David Mansbridge, the Englishman who won the title these last two years and was also second in the men's race at Saqqajja two days ago. His gap from the leading runner is now 15 seconds, a deficit which could easily be wiped out in today's final stage, a 25km race from St Paul's Bay to Valletta. Bahhad's overall timing is 56:36.

Holding out behind the two front-runners is Athleta Pembroke member Brian Magri. He has two third places to show so far. Yesterday, he finished behind Mansbridge in 19.57. His overall timing is 58.40.

Carmen Hili, of St Patrick's AC, yesterday opened a two-minute lead over her nearest rival after winning the Birzebbuga stage in 24:38. Catherine Bonnici was second in 25.17. She has an overall timing of 1:14.20 to Hili's 1:12.19.

Third in the women's race yesterday was France's Marjorie Murez. She retained her third position overall with an accumulated time of 1:15.54.

Today's third stage starts from St Paul's Bay at 8 a.m.