A change of route in the second race of the Birkirkara 5K Road Running Series 2007, brought mixed fortunes to the top participating athletes.

St Patrick’s Jonathan Balzan, second in the first race to Gerald Grech of AS Libertas, managed to reverse the top two positions winning in 15 minutes 51 seconds, 6 seconds ahead of Grech.

In the females’ race, Carmen Hili, fourth in the previous event, turned on a winning performance at Mtarfa, clocking 19 minutes 25 seconds.

Gerald Grech, visibly uncomfortable on a slightly undulating route on the Mtarfa by-pass, could not react to Jonathan Balzan’s feisty performance. The latter kept an unrelenting momentum throughout the race, notwithstanding the windy conditions prevailing on the route.

Furthermore Grech came under pressure from Brian Magri of Athleta Pembroke and Mellieha’s Robert Attard. However his earlier efforts paid good dividends as he managed to finish second in 15 minutes 57 seconds. Magri finished third in 16 minutes three seconds. In the overall classification, Balzan is now leading Grech by one second.

The females’ race also produced a new winner in this Series. In form Carmen Hili of St Patrick’s AC, fourth in the previous race cruised to victory in 19 minutes 25 seconds.

First race winner Angela Sammut retired at the second kilometre, paving the way to a comfortable victory for Hili.

Second place was a tight contest between Nadia Portelli of Athleta Pembroke and Caroline Ciappara of Allcomers AC. The former, third at Ta’ Qali, out sprinted her rival by two seconds to finish in 20 minutes 18 seconds.

The third race in this series will be held at Ta’ Qali National Park on Tuesday 28 August starting at 7pm. This series is organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club in collaboration with the Birkirkara Local Council and under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletic Association.