Records tumble at Powerade Gudja 8K

There was double success for Jonathan Balzan and Carol Galea who not only won their respective categories in the Powerade Gudja 8K but also did so in record time.

Organisers St Patrick's AC had even more reasons to celebrate as they saw three of their male athletes finishing in the first places.

Nevertheless, it was a hard-fought race, particularly in the men's category where Balzan had to beat off the challenge of Drew Lang. The two immediately raced into the lead and spent most of the race testing out each other with a number of tentative breaks.

Yet, they were still neck-and-neck up till the final kilometre when Balzan powered ahead. Tactically, he ran a perfect race and looks to have learnt from past mistakes.

Notching the record - which now stands at 27:01 - was clearly on Balzan's mind, as it was the first thing he asked as soon as he had crossed the finishing line.

"Yes, it was my main objective," he admitted. "I had been preparing for it during training. The previous record stood at 27:12 and I wanted to beat that. I'm extremely satisfied that I did it."

Simon Camilleri initially kept up with the leading duo's pace but fell back after the third kilometre.

"In the first three kilometres the pace was exceptionally fast," said Camilleri, who eventually came in third place. "I felt tired from the start and although I managed to keep up I was looking for a better time."

Even though he had to make do with a runner-up placing, for Lang there was the consolation of slightly bettering his personal best in this event.

"I'm not too disappointed," he said.

"Jonathan is running well. We were head-to-head for most of the race and it was only in the last bit that he got away."

Once again, Athleta Pembroke's Galea was virtually unopposed in the female category as she won in 29:05, over one minute better than the previous best that Charmaine Sciberras had set in 2001.

Galea, who was taking part in the Gudja 8K for the first time, clearly enjoyed the experience.

"The route is quite flat and the weather was perfect for running. I enjoyed myself a lot," she said. "I didn't know what the best time was and only asked about it when I was warming up. I knew that if I ran at my best I would break it."

Galea's closest rival was St Patrick's AC runner Giselle Camilleri who finished the race in 30:28. Rachel Galea, of Zurrieq Wolves, was third.

Coming a week after her participation in the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Portugal, Camilleri was satisfied with her result.

"The plan was to do a tempo run and I stuck to that plan. I hadn't been feeling well lately so I'm happy with my time," she said.

Ian Ellul (Zurrieq) and Jana Pace Cocks (Athleta Pembroke) won their respective categories in the 4K run for juniors.

Doris Gauci, of the Mental Health Commission, was an interested spectator at the Gudja 8K after the commission's decision to help organise the event.

"We approached St Patrick's because we wanted to increase awareness on mental health. There are studies that show how sport helps to reduce stress level. For us, this was the perfect opportunity," she said.