Favourite Buhagiar gunning for second successive win

The MAAA Winter League tomorrow afternoon enters its third and possibly decisive day with the Tal-Maqluba 10k race.

Favourite John Buhagiar will be eyeing a second consecutive victory after his success at Ghajn Tuffieha to further increase his chances of clinching overall victory.

The Birkirkara St Joseph athlete has been in dominant form this season, having seen off all local opposition in virtually every race he took part in so far.

"Though things are admittedly looking good at the moment, there are still two races to go, so it is still far too early to say who is going to win the title," Buhagiar remarked.

"Besides, Jonathan Balzan and Gerald Grech, for example, have both been running very well this year, so there is definitely no room for complacency," he added.

Balzan, who placed second in the first two races of the league, is the first to admit, however, that a repeat performance at Maqluba (Qrendi) is somewhat unlikely.

The St Patrick's runner has only recently taken part in that gruelling race, aptly branded 'the running challenge', finishing third.

"Of course, I realise that six days are hardly enough to recover from having run a marathon in three days," Balzan said.

"I plan to at least clock a decent time on Saturday, hoping that a good race on the final day will prove enough for a podium finish, which was, after all, my target from the outset," Balzan said.

Also in with a good chance for a top three placing is Grech of AS Libertas, who on aggregate time is a mere one second behind Balzan.

Other front-runners are expected to be Drew Lang and Simon Camilleri of St Patrick's, and the Athleta Pembroke trio of Brian Magri, Mark Herrera, and Mario Pisani.

In the ladies' race, few would bet against Giselle Camilleri chalking up her second win on the trot, especially after her convincing victory in the second leg.

Veteran runner Cecilia Fenech, holding her own against younger opposition, Carmen Hili, and Doreen Vella are expected to fight for second place.

The afternoon's programme starts as usual with the cadets' 2k race starting at 2 p.m., the youths' 3.5k at 2.30 p.m. and the intermediates' 5k at 3 p.m. The final race of the day, the 10k for juniors and seniors, sets off at 3.30 p.m.