Danica Bonello Spiteri (right) and Hannah Pace on the winners’ podium at the end of the race. Photo: Angie Conti

Last Sunday’s 28th National Duathlon Championship saw the dominant figures of multi-sport on our shores, Danica Bonello Spiteri and Keith Galea, confirming they will be the ones to reckon with again after claiming the respective titles at stake.

This was Galea’s fourth duathlon title and the third in a row, while Bonello Spiteri marked the 20th anniversary from her first win in this discipline with her ninth success.

The race was staged on the outskirts of Safi and Kirkop on a short loop of two kilometres, which the athletes had to cover twice on Run One, 10 times in the cycle segment and a final lap for Run Two which brought the race to a close.

This was a historical occasion for the Malta Triathlon Federation as it was the first time for them to use electronic timing, a system operated by Agones SFC.

The men’s race was as exciting as it can get with Shaun Galea, Steve Chetcuti and James Cuschieri hot on the heels of the defending champion. All four entered Transition One simultaneously.

Keith Galea put all his focus on the cycle to shoot in front and open a one-minute lead ahead the chasing group.

Young Shaun Galea then had an impressive final run which saw him covering the two-kilometre distance in just six minutes and 44 seconds.

However, it was not enough for him to reach Keith Galea, who retained the title with 51 seconds to spare.

Shaun Galea, 17, was second as Chetcuti followed to make it a clean sweep for Birkirkara St Joseph SC on the podium.

Neil Markham won the U-23 category with Bernard Sant taking the day’s honour in the U-20 championship.

In Masters, Kevin Muscat topped the Over 40s, Hadrian Bonello was first in Over 50s and Joseph Cortis claimed the Over 60s title.

In the women’s championship race, it was clear from the start that the honour would be contested mainly by Bonello Spiteri and Hannah Pace.

They stuck together and opened a margin of 40 seconds on defending champion Michelle Vella Wood and the chasing group.

Pace had the best bike-split of the day but Bonello Spiteri fought back in the last run to finish first, 25 seconds ahead of Pace.

Vella Wood settled for third.

Nina Zammit, fifth overall, won the U-23 race and Debbie Caruana Dingli claimed the Over 50s title on her return to the sport.

Meanwhile, competitor Mark Lewis deserves special mention following his decision to stop racing and assist a fellow athlete who had just suffered a bike crash.

The Malta Triathlon Federation thanked the authorities concerned for their assistance along with Magri Cycles, Joseph F. Spiteri and Co., Birkirkara SJ, Oh So Yummy Bars, San Michel, V.J. Salomone and Go&Fun Green.