Walsh, Kochkin favourites for overall victory

Carol Walsh and Konstantin Kochkin are favourites for overall victory in the 2006 Malta International Challenge Marathon after winning yesterday's second stage in Birzebbuga.

Following their victories in the opening stage on Friday, both runners maintained their supremacy with another strong showing in the 6km run.

Walsh was again the fastest woman on the day after completing the distance in 23 minutes 10 seconds. She has an overall time of one hour seven minutes 30 seconds, three minutes 38 seconds better than Carmen Hili who clocked 24.07 for an aggregate time of 1:11.08.

Doreen Vella (1:12.01) maintained third place in the overall standings when she again finished behind Walsh and Hili in 24.10.

In the men's marathon, Russian Kochkin notched his second successive win when he stormed home first in 19.43 for an overall time of 57.41.

David Mansbridge, four times Challenge winner, was again forced to settle for second place in 20.22. The Briton has a combined time of 59.31 - one minute 50 seconds slower than Kochkin.

Stanislav Perentrev (20.31) is third overall on 1:00.20 ahead of local runner Drew Lang (20.47) on 1:01.03.

The Challenge Marathon comes to a close today with the long 25km stage from Bugibba to Valletta, starting at 7 a.m.