There was an excellent turn-out of over 230 runners for a one-kilometre fun run and the 10th 5K organised by the St Vincent de Paul Running Group last week.

Under the slogan ‘A Decade On The Run’, the races were held under the auspices of the Athletics Malta with APS Bank and Kristal the sponsors on the day.

There were 166 participants in the fun run and 173 runners for the 5K including some of the top per-formers from the main clubs on the local scene.

The start of the main race was located near the Residence entrance. The route went through Mdina and Aldo Moro roads, the Marsa Sports Ground, Manwel Dimech Road and the uphill back to the Residence.

Up to the 2.5-kilometre mark, Jason Martin (Mellieħa) and Gerald Grech (Libertas) were leading the pack but then Martin pulled clear.

Mark Herrera (Pembroke) did well to reduce the gap but Martin finished the race first in 15:47. Grech overtook Herrera on the finish line (both clocked at 16:01).

Brian Magri (Athleta, 16:10) was fourth ahead of Simon Spiteri (St Patrick’s, 16:37).

Giselle Camilleri (St Patrick’s) won the women’s race in 17:31.

Angela Sammut (St Patrick’s, 18:23) was second and Carmen Hili (St Patrick’s, 18:32) and Francesca Arrigo (Ladies RC, 19:25) finished third and fourth respectively.

The trophies for the top three male employees at the Residence were won by Adrian Mifsud, Puzharathuve Shaigu and Carmel D’Amato (men) and Elizabeth Pisani, Marianne Azzopardi and Audrey Micallef (women).

The special prizes for the first employees home from the Health Sector went to Noel Spiteri and Natalie Borg.

The Golden Trophy for the first male and female members of the SVPRG were awarded to Christian Micallef and Elizabeth Pisani.

Paul Fenech won the Sadia Mizzi Best Effort trophy.

At 74, Fenech was the oldest runner in the 5K, clocking 46:37.