Mifsud and Hili seal Birkirkara SJ series

Aaron Mifsud (Pembroke Athleta) and Carmen Hili (St Patrick’s AC) are the winners of the ninth Birkirkara St Joseph 5K Road Running Series following Tuesday’s decisive fourth race at Mtarfa.

Mifsud, finishing fourth on the day, won the title in an accumulated time of 49 minutes, 45 seconds.

Hili’s time in the women’s series was 56 minutes 29 seconds.

The final race, however, belonged to Italian Vincenzo Scuro (AS Libertas).

Scuro won in 16 minutes, nine seconds, ahead of Clive Gerada (St Patrick’s AC – 16 minutes 31 seconds) and Mario Grech (St Patrick’s AC – 16 minutes 34 seconds).

Mifsud’s time was 16 minutes, 36 seconds.

Hili claimed the women’s crown with a victory in the final race, covering the distance in 18 minutes, 45 seconds. Title contender Angele Sammut (St Patrick’s AC) could not keep the pace and finished second in 19 minutes, 44 seconds.

Sammut was 17 seconds in front of veteran Cecilia Fenech (Żurrieq Wolves) on the day.

The BSJ Series is held over four five-kilometre races, and organised under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletic Association.

The race on Tuesday brought to a successful end the calendar of events organised annually by the club.

The 2011 programme included a series of open water swimming, triathlon races, a road running series, the Gozo-Malta and Malta-Gozo-Malta Open Water races, and a cycling time trial.