Galea and Bonello Spiteri regain titles

Danica Bonello Spiteri (St Patrick's) and Dermot Galea (Birkirkara St Joseph) on Sunday regained the National Duathlon titles.

The race, organised by the Malta Triathlon Association and held along the Salina coast road, consisted of a 5km run, followed by a 30km cycle and finishing with another run of 3km.

No fewer than 43 athletes and three relay teams took part in a race that traditionally heralds the start of the triathlon season.

Mark Zammit and Brian Magri (Athleta Pembroke) shot to the front and covered the first 5km run in just 17mins 10secs. They were followed by Keith Galea (Birkirkara) in 17:35 and Dermot Galea in 18:04.

In the women's race, Bonello Spiteri and rookie Marica Micallef (St Patrick's) came in practically together in 21mins. They were closely followed by Michelle Wood (Birkirkara), last year's winner.

In the cycle segment, Dermot Galea powered to the front, covering the 30km distance in 44m 52s. He was followed by his younger brother Keith in 46:06. Magri returned the third fastest time of 47:19.

Bonello Spiteri continued to build on her slim advantage by finishing the cycle in 54:24, two minutes ahead of Micallef, who herself was just 10 seconds ahead of Wood.

Magri clocked the fastest time in the final run, 10:31, but Dermot Galea managed to hang on to his lead to win the title in an overall 1:13:59. He was followed by Keith Galea in 1:14:37 and Magri in 1:15:01.

Galea dedicated his win to his friend and mentor Michael Aquilina who passed away on Friday. Sunday's race was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Dr Aquilina.

Bonello Spiteri prevailed in the women's event with an aggregate time of 1:28:45 after finishing the second 3km run in 13:26. Micallef was second in 1:30:34 while third place went to Wood (1:31:15).

The honours in the relay went to runner Charles Cilia and cyclist Fabio Spiteri, last year's duathlon winner. They had a combined time of 1:12:22.