For the eighth straight year, the Malta Marathon, now in its 32nd edition, will feature another record number of participants as 4,400 have registered for the March 5 races, organiser Joe Micallef said yesterday.
This year’s full marathon will have over 900 runners while over 3,400 will be involved in the half marathon. There will be 625 participants in the Walkathon.
Micallef said that this year’s events have seen an increase in foreign athletes, setting an all-time record of overseas participation – 2,405.
Britain again tops the list with 714 runners, followed by Italy, 390, Germany, 230, Poland, 145, and France, 131.
“Beyond Europe, we also attracted the interest of runners from far away countries such as Canada and Brazil,’’ Micallef added.
One of the athletes taking part next month is five-time race winner Mohammed Hajjy, who placed fourth last year. The Moroccan is the current Malta Marathon record holder with 2:16:06, set in 2013.
“Once again, Mohamed Hajjy has to be considered among the favourites to top the podium this year,” Micallef said.
Meanwhile, 2,018 Maltese runners have registered for the races, with 114 to take the 42km challenge. There will be 1,904 in the half marathon.
Micallef underlined that the local favourites for the marathon should be Andrew Grech and Jonathan Balzan.
The last time they raced each other in this event was in 2015. On that occasion Grech had the better of Balzan by just 25 seconds.
Josann Attard Pulis will also return, looking to repeat last year’s achievement of being the first local female athlete home in the full marathon.
It was also revealed yesterday that there will be four male foreign runners whose best times hover around the 1:06 timing in the half marathon.
“We have not had such a fast finishing time since the 2001 race,” Micallef told reporters.
“Charlton Debono, the 2016 half marathon winner, is likely to lead the local challenge again this year. However, given that his personal best over the distance is 1:08, he will be facing a difficult task to retain his title.”
The race organisers yesterday emphasised on the safety issue, urging drivers to cooperate with the officials and marshals along the route.
Vodafone Malta is sponsoring the Malta Marathon for the fourth time with other backing coming from Urban Jungle, San Michel, Powerade and Fitness. Once again, Inspire were named as the Official Charity of the 2017 Malta Marathon.
Chip timing will be applied for the 10th time in a row in order to record the times of the athletes during the races and a specially-minted medal will go to all finishers. The winners will receive prize money, based on their finishing times.
The full marathon starts from Mdina at 7.30am while the half-marathon and walkathon get underway at 9.15am.
The routes for both races have been slightly amended due to road works at Nigret, Rabat, and the Kappara project. That led to a reduction of 165m, which will be regained in the final part as the finish line was moved back towards Tigne by the same distance.
Local participants can collect their race numbers from the Vodafone Destination Store between February 25 and 26 (4pm-7.30pm) and between February 28 and March 1 (7pm-9.30pm).
Foreign runners can get their race numbers from Le Meridien Hotel between March 2 and March 3 (6pm-9.30pm).
On the following day, registrations will be opened from 3pm until 9.30pm.
Race Director Joe Micallef (right) addressing the media alongside Kim Dalli, of Vodafone Malta. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina