The organisers of the 2013 Malta International Challenge Marathon had every reason to be cheerful at the launch of the 23rd edition yesterday as this year’s races have attracted a record entry and Nestlé Fitness have renewed their spon-sorship for another term.
This year’s Nestlé Fitness Malta International Challenge Marathon will hit the road between November 22 and 24.
Last year’s winner Bartosz Mazer-ski, from Poland, second-placed Russian Vladimir Sementsov and Italian Vincenzo Scuro will be among the 155 runners who have registered for this year’s three-day marathon.
Barry Whitmore, founder and race director, could not hide his delight yesterday.
“This is a huge response we’ve had,” Whitmore told a news conference at the Nestlé Malta premises.
“The record entry field and the top names who will be on the starting line of this year’s edition will provide a great spectacle for the spectators lining the route.
“Mazerski and Sementsov will surely race to break the records. Last year, Mazerski improved the time of the second stage by three seconds and this year, his results are showing that he can really improve his overall time.”
Jonathan Balzan, winner of the title in 2005, and from 2008 to 2011, is currently nursing an injury.
Thus, Malta’s hopes now lie with Abraham Zammit and Andrew Grech, a police officer who has been very consistent this season and recently won the Smart City Malta 8K road race.
In the women’s field, six-time winner Carmen Hili will also defend her 2012 title but Joelle Cortis, who claimed overall victory in 2010, will miss out through injury.
The first stage, covering a distance of 11.195km , starts in front of Mdina Gardens and finishes in Rabat on Friday, November 22.
The 6km second leg will be in Birżebbuġa and the final run will take runners from St Paul’s Bay to Freedom Square in Valletta over a 25km course.
“The Malta International Chal-lenge Marathon can be ranked among the toughest races in Europe largely due to the daunting hills which, anyone who has run it, will know well,” Whitmore said.
George Spiteri, Charles Dar-manin and Carmel Herd, who have run in all 22 editions of the Challenge Marathon, will be extending their amazing run later this month.
On her part, Melania Pellicano, group product manager at Nestlé Malta, said her company was delighted to be associated with this prestigious event.
“Our sponsorship agreement with the Malta International Challenge, through the Fitness brand, has been renewed for another year and this is in line with our philosophy to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle, attributes that are constantly being promoted through our brand Nestlé Fitness,” Pellicano explained.
The first edition of the Malta International Challenge Mara-thon, held back in 1991, was won by English runner David Mansbridge.
Polish runner Bartosz Mazerski is returning to defend his title. Photo: Isabelle Mizzi