11th Maxim Sports Nutrition Zurrieq Half Marathon
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Local Flavour at the Maxim Sports Nutrition Zurrieq Half Marathon
It was a repeat of what has become a pretty familiar story in local long distance running. Jonathan Balzan and Haithem Kisheim matched each other for most of the Maxim Sports Nutrition Zurrieq Half Marathon and up till the final kilometers it was impossible to predict a winner.
For five years Christian Nemeth this race, winning each edition and setting records. Not this year, however, as the absence of the Belgian athlete guaranteed that there would be a new name on the roll of winners and perhaps breathed fresh life into the event.
It certainly caused a fair deal of anticipation at the finishing line such was the uncertainty about the potential victor. When Jonathan Balzan appeared well ahead of anyone else for the final strait, it was clear who that would be.
“It was a fantastic run,” said the elated winner. “It was a bit too windy for me and early on that cost me some seconds. I had to make up for that later on because I knew that I had to run at my best in order to win.” Indeed, Balzan’s win was coupled with a personal best for him on this route. “Winning with a personal best: what more could I want?” he asked. What more indeed.
“Haithem was with me for much of the way. It was only in Kirkop that I started to open a bit of a gap. I increased my step a bit and was encouraged when I saw that he wasn’t coming with me so I pushed on even harder.”
That Balzan came in almost a full minute ahead of Kisheim confirms the extent of his win. Not that the Libyan athlete was too downcast. “I’m not used to training for such distances,” the ten kilometer specialist said. “ For the first sixteen kilometers I was doing well but after that I didn’t have the strength.”
“I tried hard to keep up with Jonatham but in the end I didn’t have it in my legs. For me to finish second, however, is still a very good result.”
As with last year, Brian Magri came in after the St. Patrick’s duo. Contrary to last year, however, his time was almost two minutes worse off. “I think that this is my worst result here,” he replied. “It feels good to finish third but I was expecting a better time”
“Yesterday I ate a little bit too late and I think that played a part. My stomach evidently didn’t appreciate it too much,” he said, trying to find an explanation for his result.
Not that he should punish himself too much because the general rule among athletes is that they did worse than last year. That was certainly the case for Carol Walsh who would have struggled to finish second last year had she repeated yesterday’s run.
“I think it was the humidity,” was her point of view. “I can’t really pinpoint another reason. I’ve been coming along well in training and even though I spent some time away from athletics I’ve been preparing very well and it certainly isn’t the reason for today’s result.”
“Still, I’m nearly forty six now so to be running and winning at my age is a huge bonus.”
Similar views were shared by Carmen Hili who, as with last year, finished second even though her time was also significantly worse off. “I can’t say that I didn’t try hard enough. I was pushing but it seemed to be all in vain.”
“My target was to do this in around 1:27 so I kept on pushing till the end because I wanted to do well. Yet, although I wanted to run faster, I simply couldn’t”
There was another creditable finish for Josann Attard, with the upcoming Starmax AC athlete finishing third in what has to be her best career result.
Race results can be found here
