Buhagiar, Camilleri collect honours at Ghajn Tuffieha

The main event in the second leg of the MAAA Road Running League at Ghajn Tuffieha on Saturday, was the 10km Open which brought together an impressive field of 120 athletes.

Another positive note was the improvement on the times registered last year at the same venue, a fact considered a triumph in itself by any serious athlete.

AS Libertas won the 2002 team award but face a very difficult challenge to retain the title this time around in view of the form being demonstrated by provisional leaders, St Patrick's AC.

Saturday's race also attracted a guest runner from Belgium who blazed along the route, proving to be the ideal pacemaker.

After the first loop around the Hal Ferh Complex and up the hill before turning to Xemxija, the closest to the guest runner was John Buhagiar, clearly intending to keep the Belgian well in his sights.

In the compact group that followed, Jonathan Balzan, Brian Magri, Drew Lang, Gerald Grech, Mario Pisani, Mark Herrera, David Galea and Simon Camilleri were all within striking distance.

The leading duo maintained their pace throughout but the chasing pack occasionally saw one or another trying to force tactics on the others.

At around the sixth kilometre, and facing the uphill stretches leading home, the Belgian was on the 18-minute mark and consolidating his lead. At the same time the chasing group also started to fan out with Grech, Balzan, Magri and Lang eyeing each other closely while pursuing Buhagiar.

At the finish Buhagiar stopped the clock on 33:15 with Balzan edging out Grech in a final sprint 33 seconds later. Magri was fourth ahead of Lang.

Like St Patrick's, Pembroke also had three runners up front, but for lack of a fourth member competing, they can no longer hope to feature in the final team classification with two more rounds to go.

The combined time of the St Patrick's 'A' team was 2:18.54, 55 seconds better off than that of last year. Mellieha were second, 2:25.32, and Birkirkara SJ third, 2:28.00.

St Patrick's are leading the teams' competition ahead of Birkirkara, Mellieha, Zurrieq, St Patrick's B and AS Libertas.

Meanwhile, Giselle Camilleri, of St Patrick's, produced another fine performance to finish first among the ladies. Running up a lead from the gun, she was first in 37:47 ahead of Cecilia Fenech and Carmen Hili.

The first junior runner home over 10km was Antoine Borg, of Savio College, in 40.55. Justin Mifsud was second and Karl Spiteri third.

It was also encouraging to note on Saturday that the negative trend in younger categories was at last reversed after three years in decline as 152 boys and girls were registered for the Winter League this year.

In the first race, a distance of 2km for Cadets, those present witnessed a final sprint of four runners, three of whom were girls.

In fact, Joseph Zammit only managed to breast the ribbon a fraction in front to salvage some pride for the boys. The Starmax runner was followed by Caroline Galea and Monalisa Camilleri, all on the same official timing of 7.39. Denise Vella was a second behind.

The Youths' race was another keen contest. Here, Kurt Xerri emerged as the boys' winner in 12.22. Marouska Cutajar had a more convincing win, crossing the line 12th overall in 14.01.

The other race of the day was over 5km. Here, Nathan Vella continued to make a name for himself when in the final sprint he had the better of Luke Cassar. Like Vella, Joelle Cortis continued on her winning ways when she covered the distance ahead of Starmax duo Lorna Cachia and Ingrid Frendo.