Six-time Malta Marathon winner Mohammed Hajjy had to settle for second place in the 2018 edition on Sunday morning, being narrowly beaten to the finish line by Moroccan compatriot Said El-Baazouzi.

El-Baazouzi crossed the finish line with a time of 2.18.31, with Hajjy making it in 2.18.58. 

2018 Malta Marathon winner Said El-Baazouzi crosses the finish line. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Kenyan runner Henry Kipsang, who was tipped as one of the frontrunners alongside Hajjy, came in third place with a time of 2.25.06, despite a strong start which saw him lead in the early stages.

Andrew Grech was the first Maltese runner to cross the finish line, coming in seventh with his time of 2.30.15. 

Polish runner Anna Wasik's time of 2.53.47 placed her first among all female marathon runners competing, with the Czech Republic's Nikolina Sustic in second (2.56.38) and local athlete and last year's winner Josann Attard Pulis in third (3.00.48). 

Poland's Anna Wasik, winner of the women's category in the Malta Marathon. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

The top runners led a pack of 970 runners who registered to take part in the full marathon this year.

A further 3,700 are taking part in the half-marathon, with the combined total representing a record high for the yearly event. 

While the number of Maltese participants dipped slightly from last year's edition of the Malta Marathon, the shortfall was made up by an increase in the number of foreign participants, with 2,874 runners flying in from overseas to compete in the 33rd edition of the Malta Marathon.

Maltese duo dominate women half-marathon

Fabian Downs from Switzerland (1.09.28) and local runner Charlton Debono (1.09.35) placed first and second respectively among men in the half-marathon. Maltese athlete Luke Micallef placed third (1.11.49).

Lisa Marie-Bezzina was the first woman to cross the finish line, clocking in with a time of 1.19.27, with Roberta Schembri in second place with a time of 1.20.58 and Mandy Dohren of Great Britain in third with 1.21.10.