Balzan, Walsh retain top spots

Jonathan Balzan and Carol Walsh preserved their lead after Day Two of the International Malta Challenge Marathon following the second stage which was held in Birżebbuġa yesterday.

Balzan was again the first runner home in the six-kilometre race when he breasted the tape in 20.13.

His accumulated time is now 58.57, more than two minutes ahead of Johann Galea who is second on 1:01.46.

At Pretty Bay, Galea was 29 seconds faster than third-placed Simon Lia who finished in 21.34.

Lia starts this morning's 25km race from St Paul's Bay to Freedom Square, Valletta, third overall with a time of 1:03.28.

In the women's race, Walsh (1:07.23) opened an advantage of three minutes over Carmen Hili (1:10.34). Walsh covered the distance in 23.02 yesterday and Hili did it in 23.56.

Britain's Nancy Hill is third behind the Maltese duo (1:17.43).