Revitalised Bezzina aiming success in longer events

As 2004 was drawing to a close, Lisa Marie Bezzina had every reason to be pleased with her showings over the preceding 12 months. The Pembroke Athleta runner, who had earlier left her mark in middle-distance events, suddenly emerged as one of the leading long distance runners.

Being the first Maltese woman to cross the finishing line at the Malta Half Marathon in February was perhaps the highlight but the whole year was a succession of positive results which has also brought her to the attention of a host of sponsors as Quest Vitamin Supplies joined Extran and Urban Jungle in her list.

Understandably, she's delighted with the way things have gone since she made the step up in distance.

"Things couldn't have gone better," she said. "I did a personal best over the half-marathon distance at the Zurrieq race, which everyone considers to be tougher than the one of February."

While the results justify her decision to switch to longer events, they don't explain the reason behind it.

"I used to take part in the 800 and 1,500m and they were my favoured events. I'm not saying that I no longer enjoy competing over those distances but what happened in the GSSE jarred me."

The 2003 GSSE were indeed a pivotal moment in Bezzina's career. She had been earmarked as a potential medal winner but her showing on the day was abysmal, as she freely admits.

"I froze. My personal best over 1,500m is 4.40 minutes but that day I did 5.03... I used to do better than that when I was 15!

"I've often gone abroad to represent Malta so I had some experience of similar competition but that day it was as if I was stuck to the track. There was my whole family there and perhaps that unnerved me ever more. It's better when there is no one around. The pressure got to me."

It was in the aftermath of those games that she decided to go into longer distances, a move aimed to get over the shock and regain some confidence.

"I'm very excitable and it took me some time to overcome that upset while competing. So the 5,000m is ideal as it gives me ample time to get into my rhythm. For me that is very important, especially when I have to face foreign athletes," she said.

"I know the Maltese athletes well so I'm confident when I have to run against them."

She knows some of those athletes better than others, seeing that her training partner is the popular Carol Galea.

"During training we always try to help each other out," says Bezzina.

"Even when we have time-trials she's always there to set the pace. I've always found her willing to help me in any way possible."

The link between the two is further strengthened by the presence of John Walsh who is more of a mentor than a coach to both runners. He's been Bezzina's coach ever since she was 14 - she is now 25 - and as such knows her inside out.

"He always tells me that I have a huge potential. He's always drumming into me that I need to learn how to pace myself during a race. Hopefully, little by little I'll learn to do that as well."

Without excluding a return to middle distance events, during 2005 Bezzina is aiming at improving her half-marathon time with 1 hour 21 minutes being the target.

But her primary objective is the GSSE this year.

With her confidence boosted by recent results, this time round she won't be falling prey to the pressure.

"I'll take part in either the 5 or the 10k and I intend to come back with a medal."

The determination in her voice as she makes that statement leaves very little room for doubt.