Balzan home first in Rabat

Jonathan Balzan was the first runner home in the opening leg of this year's Malta International Challenge Marathon which got underway in Rabat yesterday.

The 37-year-old St Patrick's AC runner, the 2008 Challenge winner, covered the 11.195km distance in 38 minutes 11 seconds to finish ahead of Pembroke's Brian Magri (38.58) and Joseph Abdilla, of Żurrieq Wolves (40.14).

Women's race favourite Carol Walsh pulled out in the last minute due to injury. The early leader in this category is Marisa Muscat, of St Patrick's AC. She breasted the tape at 48.32 and her time yesterday was classified 27th overall.

Caroline Ciappara (Aloysians, 48.50) was second and Pauline Vella (St Patrick's AC, 51.05) third.

The Running Challenge con-tinues today with the second leg (6kms) in Birżebbuġa and concludes tomorrow with the longest stage from St Paul's Bay to Valletta (25kms).