Race on to find Malta's best over 10K

The weather got considerably cooler lately and for long distance runners, it is a sign to step up their preparation for the season ahead. Interest in the new athletics season is on the rise ahead of the start of the Road Running League, the series of races that will elect Malta's best runners over the 10K distance.

Last time round, that honour went to Jonathan Balzan who also won the team event with St Patrick's AC. Balzan goes into the season as one of the favourites having overcome a nagging injury that kept him away from the sport for practically six months.

That, however, seems to be in the past and he's nearing his best as shown by the new route record he set earlier this month at the Errea Gudja 8K.

Balzan's biggest challenge is likely to come from St Patrick's AC team-mate Haitem Ksheim. The Libyan has been progressing race after race and his potential is undoubted.

Like Balzan, he too recently set a route record in the St Vincent de Paul 5K.

Brian Magri, of Pembroke Athleta, has been quite impressive of late and, after a period of relative inactivity, he seems determined to make up for lost time. Indeed, Magri beat both Ksheim and Balzan in the recent Mdina Glass Ladies Running Club 10K, marking him out as a definite challenger.

The rest of the leading pack should be made up of AS Libertas's Gerald Grech who has had a mixed summer as far as results go, as well as Charles Cilia of Mellieħa AC, an experienced athlete who has the ability to excel in such races.

Among the women, much depends on what Carol Walsh decides to do. If the veteran Pembroke runner takes part, then it is hard to see anyone taking the title off her, such is her dominance.

Should Walsh opt to skip the League, then Giselle Camilleri would be the most likely challenger, even if the St Patrick's AC runner has had an on-off couple of months due to injury.

Challenging her and the rest will be St Patrick's AC's Carmen Hili. Although the marathon is Hili's speciality, she is a consistent runner who rarely disappoints even in short distances.

Special mention goes to the promising Joelle Cortis. The young Pembroke Athleta runner has long been earmarked as a special talent and this could be the year when she finally makes her breakthrough.