Jimmy Sacco placed second at the Palermo International Marathon but the joy for this success was tampered by the fact that Jonathan Balzan was directed off course while comfortably in the lead.

A large group of 17 athletes formed part in the trip organised by St. Patrick’s AC. Of these five took part in the full marathon with the rest opting for the half-marathon.

There were high hopes that Balzan would manage to emulate his success in the Sicilian capital of two years ago, where he won the half marathon, but when a race marshal failed to give him proper directions.

“It was a massive disappointment for me,” he said afterwards. “To have put in all that effort and be in the lead only to see it snatched away in that manner is quite simply unacceptable.”

His misfortune cast a shadow on the other athlete’s joy although most took the view expressed by Emile Vassallo in that “for us Jonathan Balzan is the true winner of the 2007 edition of the Palermo International Marathon.”

Apart from Balzan and Mario Pisani (Pembroke Athleta) who did not finish due to an injury, the other athletes who took part in the marathon were Martin Agius (3:12), Simon Camilleri (3:00) and Jimmy Sacco (2:47) the latter hailing from Mellieha AC.

Again, most of the athletes taking part in the half marathon were from St. Patrick’s AC. These were Manwel Bezzina (Attard AC 2:13), Reuben Debono (2:09), Sinclair Grima (1:32), Michael Grima (1:30), Paul Grima (1:57), David Jones (1:53), Ruben Magro (1:57), Simon P. Camilleri (1:27), Charmaine Pisani Grixti (Pembroke Athleta – 1:45), Emile Vassallo (1:43), Jude Zammit (1:36) and Joe Zerafa (1:34).

St. Patrick’s AC are now planning to organize a trip for the Paris Marathon to be held at the start of March. Anyone looking for further information is invited to visit www.stpatricks-ac.org, send an e-mail to stpatricksac@ gmail.com or call 9988 7807.