Morrocan runner Mohammed Hajjy and Malta’s Josann Attard Pulis are the winners of the 2014 Vodafone Malta Marathon.

A record 3,600 athletes participated in the popular annual event which saw the entrants starting from Mdina Gate and finishing off at the Ferries in Sliema.Hajjy claimed his fourth successive victory in the men’s marathon as the Italy-based runner completed the 42.1km course in two hours 18 minutes and 26 seconds.

Italy’s Carmine Buccilli was second in 2:20.01 while Morocco’s Hicham Boufars was third in 2:20.30.Jonathan Balzan was the first Maltese runner home when he completed the distance in 2:30.55, just ahead of Andrew Grech who despite feeling unwell in the last few kilometres of the race managed to place seventh in 2:32.42.

Attard Pulis ensured that a Maltese runner would win the women’s title for a second successive year when she topped the women’s category in three hours and 20 seconds. The Starmax runner was followed by France’s Anne Bitrou Gaillard (3:14.27) and Karen Xerri (3:17.10).In the half marathon, St Patrick’s runner Ibrahim Hussen took the title when dashing home in one hour 10 minutes and 24 seconds.

Australia’s Yosef Scerri was second in 1:11.47 while England’s Gary Perrington was third in 1:11.51.Charles Cilia, of Agones AC, was fourth in 1:12.32.Italy’s Elga Caccialanza won the women’s half marathon when crossing the finish line in 1:20.13. She was followed by compatriots Paola Bernardo (1:22.18) and Lisa Ferrari (1:24.31.).

Mellieha runner Rita Galea was the first Maltese female athlete home when crossing the finish line in 1:27.21.