A record number of over 1,000 participants are expected to take part in this year’s BMW Malta Marathon to be held on Sunday week, 24 February.

In a news conference yesterday morning, Joe Micallef, on behalf of the Organising Committee, said that over 1,000 participants had already confirmed their participation.

The vast majority of these are foreigners with just 380 Maltese – 100 fewer than last year – registered to take part.

Micallef said that late entries – only in the Half Marathon – will only be accepted on condition that the applicants agree to receive a different medal to that minted for this year’s race.

Micallef said they had been overwhelmed by the response from abroad this year – an increase of 63 per cent. Last year there were 399 foreigners taking part: this year, there are 650 applicants.

Germany leads

Germany leads the list of foreign runners with 300, 100 more than last year. The others hail mostly from Britain (140), Italy (80), USA (40), and others from a variety of countries.

He added that no late entries for the full marathon will be accepted. “The limit of 300 has been reached. For the Half Marathon, there are still some 70 places left,” he revealed.

Micallef added that for the first time in the event’s history, chip timing is being used to record the times and positions of the participants. It is hoped this will continue to raise the standard of the event to international levels.

Micallef explained that the route will be more or less the same as that of last year with just one small difference at Ta’ Qali, where the runners will have to go through the national park.

The organisers thanked the Minister of Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority for their continued support of the Malta Marathon.

As in past years, there will also be a 2km Fun Run which starts from The Ferries at Sliema. It should prove to be an enjoyable family activity. It is being coordinated by Pembroke Athleta (tel. 21433452). Those who have not yet registered may do so on the day before the Fun Run. It is anticipated that, as in previous years, close to 400 children will take part in this event.

Top runners

Two leading athletes are expected to take part. These are Kenyan Philemon Serem Kipketer who has a PB of 2:13.52 and Burundi Joachim Nshimirimana who as a PB of 3:13.30.

Marchane Abdelkebir, the Sicily-based runner who won four past editions and who holds the record, will again be a special guest of the organising committee. He is, however, expected to take part in the Half Marathon.

Among the locals, all the top runners have applied for participation and all are expected to challenge in their respective event.

Motorists are being urged to avoid those roads which will be closed during the staging of the event on 24 February. They are all being requested to show cooperation with the Police and Local Wardens who will be controlling traffic in various streets and roads along the two events’ routes.

The full marathon, over a distance of 42.2km, starts at Mdina at 8am. The Half Marathon, over the distance of 21.1km, will start from Mdina, but at 10am.