Jonathan Balzan kept his lead to win the Nestle Fitness Malta International Challenge Marathon yesterday with an overall time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds.

The St Patrick’s athlete won all three stages from Johann Galea (Pembroke Athleta) leading with 1 minute 31 seconds before yesterday’s start and increasing the same lead to 3 minutes 35 seconds at the end.

English runner David Mansbridge was third with an overall time of 2:33:44.

In the women’s category Carmen Hili (St Patrick’s) won with an overall time of 2 hours, 55 minutes and 9 seconds. Marisa Muscat (St Patrick’s) was second with 3:05:12.