Birkirkara St Joseph SC are looking to increase the profile of the Malta International Challenge Marathon after becoming the official organisers of the annual three-day running event.

Earlier this year, Barry Whitmore, founder of the Malta International Challenge Marathon, announced that he had decided to pass over the running of the race to Birkirkara St Joseph after having successfully masterminded the previous 25 editions.

Euchar Camilleri, the BSJ secretary, told a news conference that the club was pleased to be handed the responsibility of organising the race which this year will be held between November 25 and 27.

“The Malta International Challenge Marathon has established itself as one of the most popular races on the local athletics calendar,” Camilleri told a news conference at the EuroSport outlet in Birkirkara, yesterday.

“Barry Whitmore has done an outstanding job over the years as the Challenge Marathon increased in popularity among local and foreign athletes alike.

“At Birkirkara St Joseph, we have also gained in experience while running various sporting events of a certain calibre so we are now working hard to make sure that this race continues to be an attraction and a real challenge to the runners.”

Camilleri confirmed that Whitmore had accepted to form part of the race organising committee and he’s already giving his contribution to see that next autumn’s race is held without a hitch as changes will be effected to the routes.

In fact, Siġġiewi will host the first leg, a 16km race. Day Two sees participants compete over a short 5km run in Marsaskala with the marathon coming to a close with a 21km race in Buġibba.

All three new routes are in line with international rules thus any records set in one of the three legs will be ratified by the IAAF, Bir-kirkara SJ said.

It was also confirmed yesterday that EuroSport will be the main sponsors of the Malta International Challenge Marathon for the next three years.

“EuroSport is proud to be part of the Malta International Challenge Marathon,” Christine Peresso, the company director, said.

“We have reached an agreement with Birkirkara St Joseph to be the race’s main sponsors for the next three years and we have no doubt that the 2016 Challenge will be another great success.”

Applications for the race are already open and one can register by logging on to http://maltachallengemarathon.com.

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