Bonello Spiteri wins gold in European Triathlon Championships

A very positive day for the Malta Triathlon Federation as the three females triathletes obtained exceptional results at the European Triathlon Championships (Sprint Distance) that kicked off yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Danica Bonello Spiteri managed to complete her own personal podium of continental medals after she got Bornze in Israel in 2012 and silver in Austria just 12 months ago. She put in a great performance and today claimed the topmost place on the podium by winning her category in the females 30-34 years. Bonello Spiteri completed her swim of 750 metres in 12 minutes and 36 seconds, in third place, just behind fellow Maltese triathlete Seguna. Bonello Spiteri had a blistering transition and was in the lead just after the first handful of kilometres on the bike course. She managed to hold tight to the lead both in the cycling and running legs to finish in a time of 1 hour,

114 minutes and 7 seconds. Seguna, who finished the swim in second place lost some places during the cycle but managed to fight back and grabbed 4 place at 2 minutes and a half minutes after Bonello Spiteri.

In the 20-24 female category, Hannah Pace had some strong work to do in the central part of the race after exiting 7th from the swim. however, as from the first part of the cycling leg, she fought back and was in 4th place at the end of the 20KM cycle. She continued her climbing up the classification as she obtained thrid place in the first part of the run and managed to claim the bronze medal in a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes and 8 seconds. This is the second European medal for Pace after her Gold in Turkey in 2013.

The attention will now shift to Sunday morning as 3 Maltese Triathletes will be in action again, this time in the Standard (Olympic) Distance, which will see the athletes swim 1500 metres, undertake 2 laps around the Leman Lake quays and finishing it off by a 10KM run. The Maltese Team will consist of Fabio Spiteri in the mens 40-44 category, Graham Borg in the 30-34 category, while Hannah Pace will be in action againg in the female 20-24 section.

The whole team in Geneva is support by the Malta Triathlon Federation through the presence of President Cyprian Dalli and with the help of the Maltese Olympic Committee and the European Triathlon Federation.