Athletics: Evolve Endurance Club, Pembroke Athleta claim Road Running Series

Simon Spiteri and Lisa Bezzina win individual event

Simon Spiteri is the new National Road Running champion after securing second place in the last of six legs, a 5k race held in Ta’ Qali, as Dillon Cassar adds another honour to his impressive local palmares, winning the event which also served as the National Championship on the distance.

Cassar of Mellieħa AC took home the final race of the league series in 14:48, a second victory for him this season, five seconds ahead of St Patrick’s Spiteri with Evolve’s Gabriel Farrugia in third place in 14:55. This result confirms a fantastic season for Spiteri, who won the 10k National Championship earlier this year. In the overall Championship, Aidan Tanti and Charlton Debono took second and third place overall respectively.

Among the women, Lisa Bezzina completed her clean sweep this season, winning all six legs and both 5k and 10k National Championship with a time of 18:03, ahead of her Pembroke teammate Rosalie Borg, whose second place in 18:34 confirmed the same position in the overall ranking. Libertas’ Monalisa Camilleri placed third in Ta’ Qali with a gun time of 18:49. However it was Blaze SC’s Josann Attard Pulis who took the third overall slot in the Series.

The final 5k race also served to close off the Clubs’ Championship. While the Pembroke Athleta ladies took home the title with undisputed dominance, the stakes were still open among the men.

Although Cassar’s wins brought valuable points for Mellieħa, it was Evolve Endurance Club that emerged the overall Club champion, thanks to consistent performances by the likes of Gabriel Farrugia, Aidan Tanti and Charlton Debono.