The ninth edition from the Birkirkara St Joseph 5K Road Running Series took off with favourites Gerald Grech and Angele Sammut ensuring a victory in the opening leg.

Grech’s victory was his first in this series since Decmber 2008, while Sammut resumed where she left off last year, when she won the final race in December.

AS Libertas runner Grech finished the race in 16 minutes, 44 seconds ahead of Pembroke’s Aaron Mifsud (16:57) and St Patrick’s Simon Spiteri (16:58).

Sammut was pushed all the way in the women’s race.

Her finishing time of 18 minutes, 44 seconds was only 12 seconds better than her St Patrick’s team-mate Carmen Hili.

Veteran Cecilia Fenech (Zurrieq Wolves) finished third in 19 minutes, 51 seconds.

The second race from the series will be held next Tuesday at Mtarfa, starting at 7 p.m.

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