Lisa Marie Bezzina won the women’s race in the second event from the Road Running League, held at Tal-Maqluba. Photo: Wally Galea

In the second of the five-race Road Running League, organised by Athletics Malta, Pembroke Athleta served notice with their showing at Tal-Maqluba that the first encounter at Siġġiewi was one to be respected.

Indeed, both Mark Herrera and the female athlete he coaches, Lisa Marie Bezzina, finished first in the individual category.

A good turnout of 136 runners ensured good competition, especially in the team event, where Pembroke scored 24 penalty points.

Besides Herrera, Brian Magri, Luke Micallef and Richard Chetcuti, in that order, finished within the first 12.

A resurgent Żurrieq Wolves, champions in the past years, had their foursome finishing in the first 18, claiming a total of 45 points to edge out St Patrick’s, the 2013 champions, comfortably.

In the provisional classification, Żurrieq Wolves are now on 118, a mere two points behind St Patrick’s, with Pembroke Athleta in the lead with a penalty points total of 58.

In the women’s team event, Mellieħa likewise piled on the pressure on champions St Patrick’s.

They emerged victorious by five points for an overall total of 35, with the Ladies Running Club occupying third place.

With the first two races being over a distance of five kilometres, it is still a long road to the final reckoning, with notable performances to be expected from athletes specialising in the 10k distances.

Nevertheless, the accustomed best performers who missed out at either one of the two races held so far cannot afford to rest on their haunches, especially if they want to leave their mark on the Road Running League and finish among the prize-winners this season.