For the second time in this year’s Birkirkara St Joseph 5k Road Running Series, it was a foreign athlete who clinched first place at the men’s race held last week at the Mtarfa bypass.

Bruno Lima, a Portuguese athlete who runs for the British athletic club Salford Harriers, fended off a couple of early challenges to win in 15 minutes and five seconds.

Last month, it was Sweden’s Martin Wvopio who raced home ahead of all rivals, winning the opening leg in 16:10.

Keith Galea, of Birkirkara St Joseph, came in second, in 16:41, after shadowing Lima for most of the distance, with the Portuguese sprinting to the finish line in an amazing show of strength despite the sweltering conditions.

Young Simon Spiteri (St Patrick’s AC) fought a hard battle with Steve Chetcuti (Birkirkara St Joseph) for third place. In the end, it was Spiteri who crossed the finish line first in 16:49.

In the women’s category, La Salle’s Tara Abdilla, winner of the first leg of the 2015 series, did not race this time paving the way for others to claim the honours in the summer challenge.

With the likes of veterans Rita Galea, Carmen Hili and Francesca Arrigo taking part, placings on the podium were up for grabs.

A final sprint from Hili, however, could not be matched by Galea (Mellieħa AC) to take first place in a time of 19:19.

Galea followed Hili three seconds later. Third place went to Angela Satariano (AS Libertas) in 19:45.

The 5K Series is held under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletics Association and the winners will be the ones who garner most points from all three races in the competition.

The remaining leg is now scheduled for August 18.

Athletes wishing to register can do so online (www.bkarastjoseph.com) or on race day.