Martin caps fine month with Dingli 10 success

In what is traditionally the first long-distance race after the Malta Marathon, Jason Martin won the Dingli 10 for the first time in his career to cap a positive month.

The Mellieħa AC runner led the convalescent Jonathan Balzan by 46 seconds, thus reversing the result of the marathon where it was the St Patrick’s AC athlete who had come home first.

Third place went to Brian Magri, of Pembroke Athleta, one of the veterans of Maltese athletics who nevertheless regularly features among the winners in local races.

In the women’s field, there was a good result for Angela Sammut who, wearing St Patrick’s green colours, was the clear winner of a race where she has a very positive track record.

Second behind Sammut was Żurrieq Wolves’ Cecilia Fenech with Carmen Hili, a welcome sight as she seems to be recovering well from injury, in third.

This year’s race, which was sponsored by Nestle Fitness, Hilly Clothing and Isostar, drew a large amount of runners in the main event while the walkathon is also gaining in popularity.

A group of 19 immigrant youths from Dar is-Sliem and Dar il-Liedna took part in the walkathon after receiving an invitation from St Patrick’s AC.

Apart from free entry, they were also given athletics’ kits, courtesy of Eurosport, that helped make their experience more special.

Results
Men: 1. Jason Martin (Mellieħa AC) 56:26; 2. Jonathan Balzan (St Pat-rick’s) 57:12; 3. Brian Magri (Pembroke) 59:14; 4. Gerald Grech (Libertas) 1:00:03; 5. Scott Clark (Pei Roadrunners) 1:01:50.
Women: 1. Angela Sammut (St Patrick’s) 1:08:40; 2. Cecilia Fenech (Żurrieq Wolves) 1:10:21; 3. Carmen Hili (St Patrick’s) 1:12:36; 4. Margaret Seguna 1:16:22; 5. Ramona Engerer (Ladies Running Club) 1:16:34.