Galea, Wood win last race to secure top positions

Keith Galea and Michelle Wood emerged as the overall winners of the sixth edition of the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series which came to an end recently at the Salina Bay Coast Road.

With a well-earned victory at Salina, Galea crowned a fruitful season, following his victory in the Birkirkara club's open sea swimming series earlier this year.

The final race, missing virtually all national team triathletes due to commitments abroad, was a race against time for the young Birkirkara triathlete. His efforts were rewarded by winning the race in his best time this season.

Galea finished the 750 metres swim in 11 minutes 55 seconds ahead of Clifford Sultana (13.26) and newcomer Luke Bonnici (13.41). In the 20km bike segment Galea increased his margin further after completing the distance in 31.41 seconds.

At this stage, Bonnici and Sultana were battling it out for second place. The former started the final 5km run just two seconds ahead of Sultana who lost the lead he had in the swim. Bonnici cycled the distance in 33.09, while Sultana could only manage 33.26.

Galea, despite being under pressure as he chased his personal best performance, clocked 19 minutes 11 seconds for his final five kilometres to finish the race in one hour two minutes 47 seconds.

Sultana produced the best time of the day for the 5 km, annihilating the challenge of rival Bonnici in 19 minutes 8 seconds to finish second in one hour six minutes. Bonnici was third in one hour eight minutes 25 seconds.

In the women's race, Wood's consistency won her the series with another personal best performance in this final race. She finished the 750 metres swim in 15 minutes three seconds, cycled the 20 kilometres in 36 minutes 46 seconds and ran the final five kilometres in 25 minutes 1 second to complete the race in one hour 16 minutes 50 seconds. Second place went to Debbie Caruana Dingli in one hour 28 minutes 59 seconds.

In this year's triathlon series Birkirkara SJ were assisted by the Malta Triathlon Association, Red Bull GmbH, and Burmarrad Commercials.