Carmen HiliAndrew Grech and Carmen Hili are the winners of the 2013 Express Trailers Żurrieq Half Marathon, organised by Żurrieq Wolves in collaboration with the Żurrieq Local Council.
This year’s edition, which also featured a 10km race and a walkathon, attracted record participation figures with 199 runners starting the half-marathon and 467 entries for the 10km run and the walkathon.
Mellieħa AC runner Grech crossed the finish line first in the half marathon in one hour 13 minutes and 38 seconds.
Charles Cilia, of Agones SFC, was second in 1:15.43 ahead of Mellieħa’s Stephen Borg (1:16.39).
In the women’s race, Carmen Hili was in a class of her own. The St Patrick runner completed the 21km distance in one hour 26 minutes and 42 seconds, almost five minutes clear of Doreen Camilleri, of Żurrieq Wolves, who clocked 1:31.03.
Josann Attard, of Starmax was third in 1:32.49.
Żurrieq Wolves’ Melvin Mifsud won the men’s 10km race in 35.57 minutes. Veteran Jonathan Balzan, of St Patrick’s, was second in 36.03 while third place went to Alan Camilleri, of Mellieħa, in 36.13.
The women’s race was won by Gianella Bugeja in 41.59 minutes. Lucy Ann Muscat, of Mellieħa, placed second in 44.45 minutes ahead of Melania W. Weglinsk (45.55).
Apart from the prizes to the first three runners in both male and female categories, awards were also given to different age-group winners and teams.
All participating athletes received a commemorative medal by the organisers.