Grech, Camilleri win opening event

The first race in this year's 5K Road Running Series, held recently at Mtarfa, was won by Gerald Grech and Giselle Camilleri.

This annual series of four 5K road races is organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club in conjunction with the Birkirkara Local Council and under the auspices of Athletics Malta.

Grech, of AS Libertas, outran his team-mate Brian Magri to win the race in 15 minutes 54 seconds, three seconds faster than the time he clocked last year on this course and just three seconds slower than the fastest time recorded.

Magri's second place in 16 minutes 2 seconds was never under threat, with a reasonably wide margin over third-placed Drew Lang, of St Patrick's AC (16:24).

In the women's race, Camilleri (St Patrick's) was virtually running against the chrono.

She finished the race in 17 minutes 58 seconds, setting the fastest time on the course.

Pembroke Athleta's Joelle Cortis (19:19) finished second ahead of last year's race winner Carmen Hili (19:36), also of St Patrick's.

The second race in this series will be held on July 29.