Last-gasp win for Balzan

With a host of top-level athletes scheduled to take part, the Land Rover Malta Half Marathon was expected to unfold into a memorable race. And so it was.

The regular updates being relayed from the lead car to the finish line had Frenchman Cyril Merle in the lead ahead of Briton James Douglas.

So it was something of a surprise when Jonathan Balzan emerged in front at the final straight, winning in 1:08:39. Merle was second in 1:08:46, 39 seconds ahead of the third-placed Douglas.

Not that anyone should be surprised by Balzan's achievements any more, seeing his track record in local long distance running.

"A Malta Half Marathon win was the only result missing from my CV," Balzan remarked at the finish line. "I've been the first Maltese runner in all of the other main races locally apart from this one, so it is a great feeling to win it."

Last year, Balzan set a new national record over the longer distance but, with qualification for the Games of the Small States of Europe his no.1 priority this time round, he opted for the shorter race.

Tactically, Balzan played his cards extremely well. After a slow first half of the race, he had the power to overhaul Douglas and Merle, even if he left it till very late - it was only in the final 300 metres that he went ahead.

"I paced myself well and my experience helped a lot," Balzan explained. "That said, there were a bit of unknowns. I know Douglas's potential but I knew nothing about Merle.

"However, from the way he ran, you could see that he is a very good athlete. My plan was to increase the pace considerably in the second half of the race. There was a moment when I was unsure if I could close the gap on the leading duo but I eventually caught up with them.

"When I went past Merle, he tapped me on the shoulder. I think it was his way of congratulating me, also acknowledging that he didn't have the strength to reply to my attack."

The Frenchman, on the other hand, was visibly disappointed to see victory snatched away from him at the end. Although his speciality is on the track, Merle had been seen as one of the potential winners and a very good start confirmed those expectations. Indeed, he looked like being the winner until Balzan's late assault.

"I'm happy because this was a personal best for me," Merle said. "I thought I ran well, even though the wind hindered me and long distance running isn't really my speciality. Well done to Jonathan for his race but I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed to finish second after leading for so long."

Third place went to Douglas, winner of the previous two editions. "I simply didn't have the lung capacity today," he said afterwards.

"I've been hampered by health problems this year and was sick last week. So, overall it is pleasing to have come in third and I have to say that Jonathan ran a very good race."

If Douglas failed to retain the Half Marathon title, British running was still represented among the winners after Johanna Fletcher won the women's race in 1:23:42 with compatriot Lucie Woodyatt (1:24:38) second.

Third place went to Joelle Cortis who finished in 1:25:42.

Having been away from local competition for quite some time, this was a very good result for the young Pembroke Athleta runner.

"It is an improvement of over two minutes on my previous result so obviously I'm very pleased," Cortis said.