Birkirkara St Joseph’s Steve Chetcuti and Angele Sammut, of St Patrick’s AC, won the 11th edition of the 5km Road Running Series organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club and sponsored by Festina Watches and The Cyclist.

Chetcuti accumulated a time of 48 minutes and 49 seconds over the three races, while Sammut’s overall time was 56 minutes and 49 seconds.

The third and final race was a showdown between Chetcuti and team-mate Keith Galea, both of them winning a race in the previous two events, and with a few seconds separating these two Birkir-kara SJ athletes.

However Chetcuti’s 16 minutes, 18 seconds in the final race could not be matched by Galea who finished four seconds behind in a pulsating finale.

Third place went to Gerald Grech (AS Libertas) in a time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds.

In the women’s race, 2012 series winner Carmen Hili, of St Patrick’s, could not match her repeat her feat and surrendered the title to team-mate Sammut.

Sammut had the better of Hili in two out of the three races to win the series in 56 minutes, 49 seconds.

Hili finished second in 57 minutes, 14 seconds, with Francesca Arrigo, of the Ladies Running Club, placing third in 58 minutes, 52 seconds.

The 5km Road Running Series was organised under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletic Association.

One hundred and fifty seven runners took part in the different age groups.