The fourth race in this year’s edition of the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series was a fitting finale to a very successful season.
National team triathletes Keith Galea and Danica Spiteri, two contenders for the ultimate crown in the forthcoming national championships, won the race and the series in style.
In the males’ race, Keith Galea sustained his lead from the start. He was first in the 750 metres swim in 13 minutes 25 seconds, followed by Luke Bonnici who finished 20 seconds behind. William Brydon was third in 14 minutes 27 seconds.
In the bike segment the race took a different turn. Brian Magri and Fabio Spiteri worked their way up from the eighth and ninth position to third and fourth place.
At bike-to-run transition, Galea opened a 48 seconds gap on second placed Bonnici, with Fabio Spiteri, who had to abandon the last race due to a puncture, reducing the gap with the leaders to 1 minute 47 seconds.
Galea cycled the 20 kilometres segment in 31 minutes 37 seconds. The latter’s advantage was wide enough to wrap up the race in the final 5 kilometres run.
He ran the distance in 18 minutes 53 seconds to win the race in one hour, two minutes 53 seconds. In the final 200 metres of the race Bonnici lost second place to Spiteri who finished in 1 hour, four minutes and two seconds.
The former was seriously threatened by Magri’s brilliant 16 minutes 40 seconds 5K run. In fact he just managed to hold on to third place, edging Magri by just 1 second.
Danica Spiteri won the females’ race comfortably, making up for the disappointment she had with her performance in the previous one.
Her victory was made easier through a nasty fall in the bike segment suffered by her nearest rival Donatelle Callus. Spiteri swam the 750 metres in 13 minutes 25 seconds ahead of Michelle Wood (14:54) and Johanna Calleja (14:58).
In the first part of the cycle, Callus crashed on her bike, and inspite of the considerable damage sustained by the bike, she decided not to give up.
By the end of the cycle Spiteri opened a two minute 24 second lead on Wood, with Callus coming in third in 38 minutes 10 seconds.
Spiteri, looking comfortable and strong ran the final 5 kilometres in 22 minutes 49 seconds to finish the race in 1 hour 11 minutes 50 seconds.
Donatella Callus, visibly demoralised after her crash, fought back with a 21 minute 41 seconds run to finish second in one hour 14 minutes 58 seconds, 34 seconds ahead of third placed Michelle Wood.
The Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series was organised under the auspices of the Malta Triathlon Association and sponsored by Red Bull.