Last Sunday theThe first Garmin swim run event was held recently at the MFA Swimming Pool in Ta’ Qali for children aged 8-16.
The event was organized organised by top local triathletes Dermot Galea and Fabio Spiteri. The main aim of this event was to generate interest in triathlon within the younger generation. There was a good turnout of children for this event considering the cold weather.
The children were grouped into four main age groups each racing on different distances. The youngest children (8 to 9 year olds) raced over a distance of 100m swimming and 600m running.
The boys’ race was won by Luke Grech Carr (5.18), followed closely by Jake Bonavia and Nicolai Garnisi, while the girls’ race was won by Neptunes swimmer Maya Azzopardi, with Rebecca Xerri and Lara Gauci completing the podium.
The race for the 10 to 11 year olds was won by Sliema swimmer Kyle Buhagiar who covered the 150m swim and 800m run in 5mins 42sec, followed by Ethan di Egidio in second. .
The girls’ race was won by Maria Emma Law. The race for the 12 to 13 year olds was hotly contested, with Neptunes swimmer Neil Muscat edging Sliema swimmers Matthew Micallef and Thomas Wareing by 16sec to win in 7mins 42sec.
The girls’ race was won by Gabriella Saliba in 11mins 28sec. The last age group was mainly contested by the girls who covered the distances of 300m swimming and 1.5 kilometres running. Amy Micallef won the race a minute ahead of Julia Zahra and Karen Caruana who finished head to head till the last metermetre.
The last event of the day was the Open category swim-run with a 400m swim followed by 3 kilometers kilometres running.
The first man out of the water was Graham Borg but the eventual winner was David Agius Lia, with Birkirkara St. Joseph athlete Barry Farrugia coming in second. Borg had to settle for third but it was a great result for him having raced a cycling time trial an hour before. First women woman and fourth overall was Birkirkara St. Joseph athlete Johanna Calleja.
The event was sponsored by Garmin-Malta, Spinach Fitness Centre, MFA Swimming Pool, Kee Klamp Malta, and Birkirkara St. Joseph.
All athletes were given participation medals sponsored by Garmin and gift vouchers from Spinach Fitness Centre.