Challenge Marathon this week

The 15th Gatorade Malta International Challenge Marathon will be held this week after organisers from The Runners Centre had to move the dates of the three-day 42km race by one week because of CHOGM.

In a brief statement, Barry M. Whitmore, founder and Race Director, said it had been difficult for his organisation over the past two months, having lost a sizeable number of overseas runners due to the changed date. However, on a bright note, the Maltese entry this year is over 50 runners, the largest number for many years.

"At this juncture, we would like to praise the Police Commissioner and the Traffic Police for being as helpful and co-operative as possible under these very difficult circumstances," Whitmore said.

The opening stage of the Challenge is Friday's 11.195 kms race at Rabat, starting at noon. The second stage, also with a noon start, is again at Birzebbuga (2.6 kms) on Saturday and the last and longest stage of the race will be held on Sunday from St Paul's Bay to Valletta (25 kms).

Whitmore said that stage three, at 7 a.m., will now start from Wignacourt Tower and follow a route along the coast as is usual for this stage.

This is due to AIMS re-measuring the 25km-stage in January this year. The route changes are due to Tignè Point and other minor alterations along the course.

Last year there were 131 registrations, from 13 different countries with 119 completing the race.

Poul Grenaa, of Denmark, won the men's race in 2:25.02 and Malta's Carmen Hili was first woman runner home in 2:56.27.

The records still belong to Welshman Dale Rixon (2:15.49 - 1992), and Slovenia's Helena Javornik (2:37.34 - 1993).