Second leg today at Ghajn Tuffieha

The second leg from the 2003/04 Road Running League will be held this afternoon at Ghajn Tuffieha.

In the wake of the first outing in Gozo, the teams' positions in the men's league sees the first string from St Patrick's AC leading the way even though other sides have yet to figure in the series and feature in the classification. However, the Saints, like Birkirkara SJ, the other team that ran in Gozo, have the luxury of benefiting from the best aggregate times of the series - only the combined timings from the best three races will count at the end.

Comparing their times in Gozo with any of the ones posted last year, St Patrick's demonstrate the same potential and should challenge seriously for the title.

A stiff challenge is in the offing today though as Libertas, Mellieha and Zurrieq Wolves enter the fray.

Gozo leg winner Gerald Grech with Libertas team-mates Peter Azzopardi and Charles Cilia, Mellieha duo Alex Busuttil and David Galea, and Vincent Ghigo and his colleagues from the Zurrieq club, as well as dark horses Birkirkara, who have front-runner John Buhagiar in their ranks, will add spice to the battle for supremacy.

The ladies' league did not attract any attention this year but the contest for the individual honours should be keenly contested.

It was Cecilia Fenech who emerged victorious in Gozo but the talents of Carol Galea and Giselle Camilleri, as well as the presence of Doreen Vella, Carmen Hili and Daniela Casha, among others, will give substance to the individual table.

Earlier in the afternoon, the lower-aged categories commence their own league tussle. Besides athletes hailing from the clubs, all secondary schools have been invited to participate in this series of six races.

The older Junior and Intermediate runners will be covering a 5K course while the Youths and Cadets will run over 3.5K and 2K.

Although numbers have been in regression these last three years, some 150 boys and girls are still expected to be present for the first race starting at 3 p.m.

It is hoped that PE teachers in state schools will realise the benefits to be derived by their students in taking up running as a sport.