Galea, Spiteri stay on winning trail

On a clear but windy day, Danica Spiteri and Dermot Galea maintained the excellent form they showed throughout the 2006 season by seeing off all opposition to win the National Duathlon Championships held last Sunday along a new route in Birzebbuga.

The race, consisting of an initial run of five kilometres, followed by a cycle race of 30km and finishing with a shorter 3 km run, attracted a record number of Maltese participants, many of whom were participating in the sport for the first time.

This augurs well for the rest of this season's races and the Malta Triathlon Association, together with the Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club, have plans to organise more short distance triathlons and duathlons to encourage more beginners to participate.

Neither of the two champions had their own way from the beginning of the race. At the end of the first run, Donatelle Callus was hot on the heels of Spiteri while Brian Magri was well over 30 seconds ahead of Galea.

In the end, however, it was experience and the ability to keep calm in the face of spirited opposition that decided the outcome of the race.

Spiteri went on to win the race comfortably in 1hr 25 mins 47 seconds, with Callus finishing second and Marcelle Chircop third.

Galea's time of 1:13.15 had a winning margin of a mere 25 seconds over second-placed Magri, with Fabio Spiteri, making a comeback to the sport, placing third in 1:15.40.

The seniors category was won by Chris Iwanik in a time of 1:26.41, with Daniel Callus finishing second and Pierre Chircop getting bronze.

In the juniors, Keith Galea turned in the best time of 1:16.55 to top his category besides finishing fourth overall. Luke Bonnici was second and Clive Cachia third.

Johanna Calleja and Stephania Magri prevailed in the team section in 1:26.45.

The National Duathlon Championships were sponsored by Kristal Water, Powerade and The Plum Tree Restaurant, Bugibba. The Police and St James Hospital were responsible for the security and safety aspect of the race.