The second event in the Birkirkara St Joseph Triathlon Series 2011, lived to its high expectations, in turning out to be a heavyweight duel between Birkirkara St. Joseph’s Malta champion Keith Galea and Pembroke Athleta’s Small States of Europe triathlon champion Mark Zammit.
National champion Danica Bonello Spiteri, turned on the power to finish seconds away from her own course record on the Salina Coast Road.
With the calm weather conditions favouring the 56 triathletes taking part in this race, the scene was set for some fast times and personal best performances to be registered across the various categories.
Mark Zammit led the wave of swimmers from the start of the 750-metre swim to enter swim-to-bike transition in 10 minutes, five seconds, with Galea one minute 30 seconds behind. Galea’s team-mate Carl Attard struggled to keep up with the pace-setters finishing this first segment of the race in 12 minutes, eight seconds.
However Attard went into a higher gear in the ensuing 20-kilometre cycle, catching up both leaders, to finish the bike in 29 minutes, five seconds. All three triathletes started the final 5-kilometre run a few seconds apart to the enthusiasm of their respective coaches and a sizeable crowd of supporters.
It was here that national champion Keith Galea started to stamp his authority on the race. His punishing pace started to pay dividends as he gradually eased away into the lead.
Attard’s irresistible bike time, took its toll on the triathlete a kilometre into the run, which left just Zammit to chase the leader. It was game over in the final 800 metres as all eyes were now set on the chronometer which was well below the one hour mark. Galea’s final surge to the finish line stopped the watches at 59 minutes, 55 seconds, breaking the elusive one hour mark on this course.
Zammit’s one hour, 33 seconds, and Attard’s one hour, 48 seconds proved the huge progress local triathlon has achieved, with all three triathletes going under 61 minutes.
It was more of the same in the Females race. Danica Bonello Spiteri, following some impressive performances in the UK where she is furthering her studies, registered fast times in all segments of the triathlon.
She finished the 750-metre swim in 12 minutes 15 seconds, cycled the 20 kilometres in 34 minutes 15 seconds, and had enough energy in reserve to have a go at the course record in the final 5-kilometre run.
However her valiant effort in this segment was not enough to achieve her goal. Finishing the run in 20 minutes 30 seconds, and the triathlon in one hour, eight minutes, left her just 24 seconds short of the record. Donatelle Camilleri finished second in one hour, 13 minutes, 26 seconds and Caroline Zammit finished third in one hour, 15 minutes, 18 seconds.