Keith Galea’s first local com-mitment as Malta triathlon cham-pion was anything but easy.
In fact, in the first race from the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series 2011, held earlier this month at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Galea had to push himself to the limit at the finish line to stave off the brave challenge of his Birkirkara St Joseph team-mate Carl Attard.
Women’s champion and Sportswoman of the Year Danica Bonello Spiteri (St Patrick’s AC) had no such problems to win her race comfortably.
Fifty-four triathletes started the 750-metre swim at Salina Bay, with Galea and Attard taking command from this very first seg-ment of the triathlon.
Galea led Attard by a mere four seconds, finishing the swim in 11 minutes, 44 seconds.
Out on the 20-kilometre cycle, the two pushed each other throughout, under the watchful eyes of the race draft umpires.
Both entered transition area simultaneously in just over 30 minutes of cycling in relatively strong windy conditions.
The final five-kilometre run was a battle of nerves until some 200 metres from the gantry when Galea opened the sprint to win the race by the narrowest of margins – both triathletes clocking at one hour, 39 seconds.
With the likes of Mark Zammit and Fabio Spiteri about to join the fray in the coming weeks, triath-lon is in for some exciting races this season. Brian Magri (Athleta Pembroke) finished third at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq in one hour, four minutes, 57 seconds.
The women’s race, although attracting more newcomers to the sport, was still dominated by Bonello Spiteri.
Her performance showed that she is still at the top of her sport.
She swam the 750 metres in 12 minutes, 53 seconds, cycled 20 kilometres in 35 minutes, 50 seconds, and ran the final five kilometres in 21 minutes, 56 seconds, for an overall 1:10.39.
Notwithstanding Bonello Spi-teri’s superiority, Birkirkara St Joseph’s Johanna Calleja managed a creditable second place in 1:13.18. Marica Micallef finished third in 1:17.12.
Five relay teams took part in the sprint triathlon at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
The formidable line-up of Davina Mangion (swim), Etienne Bonello (cycle) and Johann Galea (run) outclassed the rest of the field, finishing the race in 56:55.
The next leg of the BSJ Series will be held on July 10.