A day of records at Gudja 8km

On the eve of the most recent Gudja Ronhill 8km, the organisers had predicted that records were going to be broken and so it turned out to be.

Yet, not even they could have anticipated that the record they were aiming for - that of the highest number of participants - wasn't going to be the only one to fall.

For, at the end of an entertaining race, Haitem Ksheim not only registered his first victory in Gudja but also set the new route record of 26.33 minutes while beating Jonathan Balzan.

"It was a very tight race," the Libyan-born Ksheim said.

For the past two years he has been running for St Patrick's AC during which time it emerged that he is quite a competitor in the middle and slightly longer distances.

"For the first five kilometres there were three of us bunched together," he went on, "before Jonathan and myself opened up something of a gap.

"Then, over the last 300 metres I pushed a little bit harder and managed to keep the lead till the end."

Balzan's target at the start of the day was to win, preferably through a record. So, it was somewhat ironic that he achieved the second goal without doing the first.

"It was hard and I did my best," he said. "I tried to keep up with Haitem but I know that he is very strong in the finish."

With the Palermo Marathon coming up, that Balzan started the race was already a surprise.

"A win would have given me a huge boost," he confessed. "Yet, knowing that I am in good condition is just as important."

Third place went to Charles Cilia, twice a Gudja 8km winner.

"I haven't run this race for some time," the Mellieha AC runner said.

"But, for me, the fact that I'm 42 and still running at these levels is quite an achievement. My time (26.53) was the same as when I won five years ago."

Time was also the foremost objective for Carmen Hili, whose win ensured that St Patrick's AC also won both senior categories.

"I've been doing quite well lately and have set personal bests in a couple of distances. I've just managed to go above my set target which is a little bit frustrating but at the same time I have to keep in mind that I'm training for the Zurrieq Half Marat-hon and the Challenge Marathon so I haven't been able to really focus on this race," she said.

Another slightly disappointed athlete was Marisa Muscat, also of St Patrick's AC, who was looking for a better time than the 34.09 she eventually registered.

"I'm pleased to have finished second," she said. "I wanted a better time but the humidity made it tough. Still, this is something that I do purely for enjoyment so it is a good result for me."

Third place went to Denise Borda, of Zurrieq Wolves, in 34.58.