Hannah Pace (centre) on the winners’ podium in Sicily.

Team Garmin triathlete Hannah Pace ended her season on a positive note after winning the Triathlon Sprint at San Vito Lo Capo, on the western coast of Sicily, earlier this month.

The race was a popular one where over 200 participants, 27 of whom women, took part.

The triathlon, consisting of a 750m swim, a 20k cycle and a five-kilometre run, was a draft legal event which had various staggered starts for different categories.

Starting five minutes after the men, Pace, winner of the Palermo Triathlon and runner-up in the National Championship this year, encountered problems when getting caught in the midst of the group.

However, she still succeeded in keeping with the top contenders and emerged third from the water.

The transition to cycling started with a slight mishap but Pace pedalled hard to catch up with the front-runners and occupy second place on the provisional timesheets.

Progressing to the run portion, Pace got engaged in a tight race with Anita Panta-leoni who forms part of the Italian junior national team.

Pantaleoni could not resist Pace’s challenge in the end and the Maltese youngster finished a comfortable winner in the women’s race. She was classified seventh overall.

“This has been a challenging year for me. Indeed, positive results like this were very much in doubt at the beginning of the season,” Pace said after winning the San Vito Lo Capo race.

“I am grateful for all the guidance and support that has been given to me from various quarters and I am also indebted to those who provided me with such support, my coaches in particular. They have been instrumental in my successful season.”

Angele Cremona also took part in the San Vito Lo Capo race, attaining her objectives after a fine performance.