The fourth race within this season’s Road Running League was held last Sunday at Ta’Qali. The foggy, humid conditions caused Athletics Malta to delay the start but at the end of the day, there probably was more satisfaction around than disappointments.

Many saw the event as a good test for the forthcoming prestigious events, the Marathon and Half-Marathon, in four weeks time, especially as the course covers a stretch that plays a significant part of the classical event.

Jonathan Balzan, for one, was visibly pleased with his time of 33 minutes 12 seconds, ahead of Jason Martin by 54 seconds.

In the absence of his teammate Charles Cilia, nursing a nagging Achilles problem, the Mellieha runner spearheaded his team’s first win in the five-event series, helped considerably by the fourth, eighth and twelfth place finishes of the other members of the team.

This result meant that the club vaulted over Pembroke Athleta and into second place behind Zurrieq Wolves. The latter themselves provided another very solid performance when their foursome all finished within the first ten, helping the team to increase their lead to a comfortable 18 points, although the result of the final encounter can still provide surprises.

Brian Magri, for Pembroke Athleta, the third runner in at Ta Qali, holds the lead in the individual classification; however, as for the team event, the final race at Marsaskala will likely be the one to determine the honours.

Melvin and Adrian Mifsud of Zurrieq Wolves, like Magri ever-present in the League so far, enjoy, at least momentarily, the second and third spots respectively. Meanwhile, in the women’s race, the St Patrick’s club recorded the best result any team can hope for by winning maximum points, their first three-to-count runners finishing in the first three places.

Mellieha managed to narrow the gap on second placed Pembroke Athleta by one point, but the latter still leads them by six points. Incidentally, by her win Angela Sammut also heads the individual honours, albeit provisionally, followed by another club member, Rita Galea Vella, who is improving at every race. Monalisa Camilleri of AS Libertas temporarily fills the third spot.