Fast timings at Zebbug

Every athlete goes into a competition with a set objective. For most, finishing a road race is already an achievement yet others still crave to do so in a time that, by personal standards, passes as a fast one.

Perhaps that is why last month's Zebbug 10k, the first leg of the MAAA Road Running League, has proved to be so popular. With three loops on a relatively flat course, personal bests tend to be shattered.

That this is a fast route was confirmed by the first two athletes - Gerald Grech and Jonathan Balzan - both going below 33 minutes.

The wo were somewhat surprised by their results.

"Last year I was twice as fit as but did only slightly better," AS Libertas' Grech noted on his 32.54 finish.

"Most probably this is down to the positive outlook that I'm adopting this year."

Grech also took time to praise the contribution of Balzan who finished just two seconds slower having pushed him all the way.

For Balzan, still on a high following his Palermo Half Marathon win but also tired because of it, the race didn't pan out as he had expected.

"During the week I felt tired after all the exertion and to be honest I would have given this race a miss but decided to take part to help St Patrick's in the team category.

"Given how the race went, however, I'm quite pleased," he said.

Given the presence of Charles Cilia, John Buhagiar and Mark Herrera, Joseph Abdilla's third place finish was a surprise. For the Zurrieq Wolves runner, however, it was simply the reward of hard work.

"I've been training very hard for the Running League so I'm not that surprised," he said.

"I kept up with the leading duo for the first two loops but then fell back. I'm happy with my time of 33.33."

In the team standings, Zurrieq Wolves lie first ahead of Mellieha AC and Pembroke Athleta.

Among the women, Lisa Marie Bezzina (Pembroke Athleta) swept home in 35.43 thereby confirming her status as the best local long distance runner bar Carol Walsh.

Second was St Patrick's Giselle Camilleri (38.12) whose participation only went through in the final minutes. Third was another St Patrick's athlete, Angela Sammut (38.35).

St Patrick's also lead the team standings in the women followed by Zurrieq W. and Ladies RC.

One of the most refreshing sights at Zebbug was that involving the large number of youngsters lining up to take part in junior races.

The number and enthusiasm of these young athletes are a guarantee for the sport's future.

Adrian Bonnici (Starmax AC) won the 2.3km race followed by Braden Hammet (De La Salle) and Ian Grech (Athleta Pembroke).

Jana Pace Cocks (Athleta Pembroke) won the same race among the girls, beating Marija Sciberras (AS Libertas) and Steffi De Martino (San Andrea School).

In the longer 3.5km, Ezekiel Micallef (St Patrick's) was first ahead of De La Salle duo Alexander Cini and Daniel J. Attard.

Denise Law (Athleta Pembroke), Francesca Xuereb (Starmax) and Monalisa Camilleri (AS Libertas) formed the order of top finishers among the girls.

In the Intermediate (5km), Kurt Scerri of Athleta set a terrific pace to win in 17.11 minutes. He was followed by Andrew Vella (Allcomers Aloysians) and Clive Gerada (Starmax). Among the girls, Athleta duo Marouska Cutajar and Roberta Schembri occupied the top two spots with Marylin Schembri coming next.

Allister Bezzina won in 16.56 in the Junior category. Behind him came Mark Anthony Magro (Starmax) and Clive Falzon (Savio AC). Joelle Cortis won the girls race.