The Malta Triathlon Association, with the support of Birkirkara St Joseph SC and Joseph F. Spiteri & Co, will be organising the first event of the 2012 season consisting of the national championship on Saturday 17 March, at the Salina Coast Road.

The race, which starts at 2pm, will be held over the following distances: first run: 5km; cycle: 30km; second run: 3km.

The association is expecting what should be a good turnout, seeing the growth of the sport in the last years, with familiar faces such as Fabio Spiteri and Danica Bonello Spiteri, last year’s champions, Keith Galea, Donatelle Camilleri and Michelle Vella Wood battling it out facing some strong competition from both veterans as well as some of the new faces that joined the sport recently.

Michelle Vella Wood, fresh from her recent podium finish at the Malta Marathon, the first triathlete to do so, is also returning to the Duathlon championships after having missed out on last year’s event following the birth of her daughter.

To ensure the safety of athletes taking part, the Salina-Bahar ic-Caghaq Coast Road will be closed for traffic between 2pm and 5pm.  Traffic will be deviated through Maghtab and T’Alla u Ommu hill.