Balzan, Hili forge ahead

Jonathan Balzan made it four in a row and Carmen Hili was back with a bang yesterday as they claimed the titles in this year’s Nestle Fitness Malta International Challenge Marathon (MICM), a 42km race spread over three days which has now reached its 21st edition.

While Balzan, 39, was cementing his status as the undisputed no.1 in local long distance running with another sound tactical display over all three legs, St Patrick’s AC team-mate Hili, 40, walked onto the highest step on the podium after a lapse of five years following her quartet of successive Challenge wins between 2002 and 2005.

Balzan and Hili started yes-terday’s 25km leg from St Paul’s Bay to Valletta on the back of two first places in Rabat (11kms), on Friday, and Saturday’s Birżebbuġa 6km run, giving them a clear edge on their nearest pursuers in the provisional overall timings.

Balzan, who also won the MICM in 2005, covered the distance in 1:29.55 to finish ahead of Johan Galea (1:31.59) and David Mansbridge (1:32.35).

Hili was also in a class of her own over the undulating course as she was home first in 1:46.08, well in front of 2009 winner Marisa Muscat (1:52.40) and the valiant Ramona Engerer (1:58.21).

Balzan’s accumulated time over three legs – 2:28.21 – is 67 seconds faster than last year’s 2:29.28 but not the best for him in the Challenge Marathon as he had won the 2009 race in 2:26.08.

For Hili, this was a race to cherish not only for her return to victory but also for registering her best time ever of 2:55.09, eclipsing her previous fastest time for the event of 2:56.27 set in 2004.

The all-time MICM records belong to Dale Rixon (2:15.49 – 1992) and Helena Javornik (2:37.34 – 1993).

Galea was classified second behind Balzan in the men’s marathon on 2:31.56, almost two minutes faster than veteran four-time winner Mansbridge who made it in 2:33.44.

Muscat was the runner-up in the women’s race in 3:05.12.

There were 131 finishers yesterday with only two runners dropping out along the way. Next year’s Challenge Marathon will be held between November 23 and 25.