A renamed Road Running and Cross Country League got off to a flying start with the Buġibba five kilometre event in mid-October.

Sponsored by Power Bar, the initial event attracted no fewer than 144 participants.

The MAAA had for some time been contemplating changes that would benefit the development of athletes opting for the longer distances, prominent among which was the introduction of cross-country races as advocated by many renowned athletes.

In this respect, the season events are to incorporate not only varying distances, but also to contain two cross country events, the first of which will be organised on the grass areas within the Marsa Sports Complex today.

The event for the men's category is to commence at 8 a.m. and shall cover a distance of approximately 10,000m. The event for women, over 8,000 metres, is scheduled to start at 8.45 a.m.

The MAAA has also announced that participants achieving set standards will be considered for registration in the European Cross Country Championships, due in Dublin, Ireland on December 13.

The Association would be willing to support two athletes, either for the Open category, or if proving better, athletes in the under-23 or junior category.

To this end, athletes who have indicated their interest for selection, like promising U-23 runner Alistair Bezzina, will be timed at distances of 6,000, 8,000 as well as the full distance of 10,000m. Finishers in the later event will of course have their finish places counting for this year's league classification.

This innovation will see athletes, individually as well as in the team events, gain points according to their placing in the series of race events. Thus, the eventual winners will be those that attain the smallest number of accumulated points.