As Birkirkara St Joseph SC’s Summer of Sports reaches its final stages, the club’s 5K Road Running Series came to a close recently.

Consisting of three races, held on the Mtarfa Bypass, the organisers reported record attendance figures with over 200 competing in the series.

The final race saw Charles Cilia make a comeback.

And the veteran runner was back with a bang after reeling in the leading group before beating the stiff competition offered by Mark Herrera, Keith Galea, Shaun Galea and Matthew Cutajar to the gantry.

There were no surprises in the women’s race as Lisa Bezzina maintained her winning streak to complete a hat-trick at Mtarfa.

Bezzina was followed home by Hannah Pace who was engaged in a tight duel for second place with Rita Galea.

The overall winners of the series were those who competed in all three legs and obtained the best accumulated times.

Birkirkara SJ athletes swept the men’s podium with Keith Galea and Shaun Galea taking first and third places respectively. Matthew Cutajar was the series runner-up.

Bezzina took the women’s series title ahead of Galea and Michelle Vella Wood, of BSJ.

“It is of great satisfaction to see the club so well represented in the race and podium finishes,” Euchar Camilleri, Birkirkara SJ official, said.

“However, it is of greater satisfaction to see the number of returning athletes as well as new faces to our fold – this is testament to the hard work and effort the club puts into its events to ensure a great race experience for all.”

The next event on the BSJ calendar is the 26th running of the three-day EuroSport Malta International Challenge Marathon, between November 25 and 27.

The Challenge Marathon will be followed by the EuroSport Fleur-de-Lys Road Running Races on December 13.