The fourth race from this season’s Road Running League was held recently at Ta’ Qali.
The unfavourable conditions forced Athletics Malta to delay the start but at the end of the day, the satisfaction of the athletes made up for the initial disappointment.
Many saw the event as a good test for this month’s prestigious events, the Marathon and Half-Marathon, especially as the course covers a stretch that plays a significant part of the classic event.
Race winner Jonathan Balzan clocked 33 minutes 12 seconds. He finished ahead of Jason Martin by 54 seconds.
In the absence of his Mellieħa AC team-mate Charles Cilia, who is nursing a nagging Achilles injury, Martin spearheaded the northerners’ first win in the series, helped considerably by the fourth, eighth and 12th place finishes of the other members in the team.
This result meant that Mellieħa AC leapfrogged Pembroke Athleta into second place behind Żurrieq Wolves.
Zurrieq produced another very solid performance when their foursome all finished in the first 10, helping the team to increase their lead to a comfortable 18 points, although the result of the final encounter can still offer surprises.
Brian Magri, of Pembroke Athleta, was the third runner in at Ta’ Qali.
He holds the lead in the individual classification but, as for the team event, the final race at Marsascala will likely determine the honours.
Melvin and Adrian Mifsud, of Żurrieq Wolves, like Magri ever-present so far, occupy second and third spots respectively.
Meanwhile, in the women’s race, St Patrick’s AC recorded the best result any team can hope for by winning maximum points, their first three-to-count runners finishing in the first three places.
Mellieħa AC managed to narrow the gap on second-placed Pembroke Athleta by one point, but the latter still leads them by six.
Incidentally, thanks to her win, Angela Sammut also heads the individual honours, albeit provisionally, followed by another club member, Rita Galea Vella, who is improving with every race.
Monalisa Camilleri, of AS Libertas, is currently filling the third spot in the provisional standings.