The 10th edition of the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series came to an end with Brian Magri and Danica Bonello Spiteri winning the fourth and final race, both of them claiming the top spot in their respective categories in the general classification.
Magri’s victory in this Series rounded up a very successful season for the veteran triathlete, winning this final race in the best time he has achieved this season.
However, he was eighth out of the water from a field of 38 triathletes, swimming the 750 metres in 13 minutes 40 seconds.
Pre-race favourite Karl Attard was first in the swimming segment of the race in a time of 11 minutes 36 seconds, followed by George Vella one second later. Having the likes of Dermot Galea, Keith Galea, Mark Zammit and Fabio Spiteri not taking part in this race, the result turned out to be very unpredictable.
With Karl Attard visibly uncomfortable in his 20-kilometre cycle, Magri turned on the power, to reduce the deficit to 32 seconds at the beginning of the final 5-kilometre run, cycling the distance in 30 minutes 28 seconds.
Magri’s fast 17 minutes 32 seconds run eventually clinched him the race and the 2010 title, to finish in one hour, one minute, 40 seconds. Attard was second in one hour, three minutes, 16 seconds, ahead of Michael Gellel in one hour, four minutes, 31 seconds.
Unbeaten in the previous three races in the females category, national champion Danica Bonello Spiteri had to make sure she finished the race to reclaim the title she has lost last year.
She managed this as early as the first segment of the race, by swimming the 750 metres in 11 minutes, 33 seconds, leaving her nearest rivals trailing by more than two minutes in her wake. Cautiously going around the 20-kilometre circuit, she finished her cycle in 36 minutes, 44 seconds, avoiding any mishaps or mechanical problems which could have cost her dearly.
In her 5-kilometre run in 22 minutes, 11 seconds, she opened an insurmountable gap, to win the race in one hour, 10 minutes, 28 seconds. Donatelle Callus was second in one hour, 15 minutes, 6 seconds, and Naturi Megumi finished third in one hour, 19 minutes, 16 seconds.