St Patrick's Balzan back with a bang

A break of two months from competitive running seems to have left no ill effect on St Patrick's athlete Jonathan Balzan as he picked up where he left off by winning the Qormi 10K.

"It was my first race since Pembroke, exactly two months after I started my break. It was a boost for me and the time was encouraging," he said.

In fact, he crossed the finishing line in a time of 32:59 minutes, just over one minute ahead of another St Patrick's athlete Drew Lang who has also been in good form of late. Third place went to Mario Vella.

In the female category it was Carol Galea who came out on top, ahead of St Patrick's Carmen Hili who completed the course in a time of 40:29 with Joelle Cortis third.

It was a hectic weekend for Malta Marathon winner Hili who had earlier taken part in the 5,000m event at the National Championships held at the Matthew Micallef St John stadium in Marsa.

On that occasion, Hili finished first in a time of 19:38:71 followed by Josann Attard (21:21:75) and Katya Camilleri (21:41:38).

Balzan's good form continued at the Olympic Day Run last Sunday where he again placed first, although he crossed the finishing line with Mario Pisani in what was an excellent gesture of Olympic solidarity. Their time was a commendable 17:03.

In the meantime, Andrea Camilleri has been chosen to form part of the squad for the FISEC Games due to be held in Malta next month. Camilleri, who is one of the most promising members of St Patrick's AC ever growing youths' section, will be taking part in both the 800m and the 1,500m.