Merle wins SVP race in record time

The St Vincent de Paul Running Group (SVP) recently held their traditional 5km race. In all, 204 athletes, aged 15 to 73, competed in the main race and 187 others took part in a one kilometre fun run.

Starting in front of the Residence gates, the well-marshalled route took athletes along Mdina Road and Aldo Moro Road, through the Marsa Sports Ground and Manwel Dimech Road and back on Mdina Road for the home straight.

By the 2km mark, Cyril Merle (AS Romagnat) had established a lead over Jonathan Balzan (St Patrick’s AC) and Gerald Grech (AS Libertas).

Merle went on to win the race in a record time of 15 minutes 19 seconds with Balzan (15:45) and Grech (15:50) having to settle for second and third places respectively. Melvin Mifsud (16:18) edged Joseph Saliba (16:18) for fourth with Allister Bezzina (16:22) sixth and Adrian Mifsud (16:26) seventh.

In the ladies’ category, Lisa Bezzina (Athleta Pembroke) surged to the front followed by Angela Sammut (St Patrick’s), Rita Galea (St Patrick’s), Mona Lisa Camilleri (AS Libertas) and Anna Laura Mugno (GS Lammari).

Bezzina won comfortably in 18:38, Saliba was second in 19:03 and Galea third in 19:14. The fourth-placed Mugno clocked 19:22.

The top-three finishers in both the men’s and ladies’ categories received a trophy and Hilly products vouchers courtesy of sponsor Barry M. Whitmore.

The special prizes for the first male and female athletes who work in the Health Sector were claimed by Marlon Deguara and Margaret Seguna.

APS, Nestle, Kristal, Athletics Malta and Kunsill Malti għall-iSport were the main backers of the SVP race.