National Mountain Running Championships 2015: Galea and Abdilla win national titles

The third annual National Mountain Running Championships were held on the 23 May in Bingemma under the auspices of the Mgarr and Rabat local councils and the Malta Amateur Athletics Association.

The event was sponsored by Perskindol (exclusively imported by NM Arrigo Ltd). This year there was an increase of foreign athletes taking part.

The race was staged in a unique countryside setting over a distance of 5.6km with a continuous ascent of 139 metres and slight descent of 35 metres, starting from Bingemma, Mgarr reaching one of Malta’s highest points at 240m and finishing in Kuncizzjoni, Rabat.

Current National Duathlon champion Keith Galea (B’kara St.Joseph) claimed the title of National Mountain Running Champion in a time of 20”32 followed closely by last year’s champion, veteran Charlie Cilia (Agones) in 20"40. Matthew Rota (AS Libertas), a young promising athlete claimed third place in a tight sprint finish with Melvin Mifsud (Zurrieq Wolves) in 21”13.

In the same race, Tara Abdilla (La Salle) who was third in last year’s edition was first from the women in 24"10, clinching the National Mountain Running champion title and establishing a new course record. In second place was last year’s winner, Carmen Hili (St.Pat's) 24"27 and a surprise newcomer - Gianella Persiano Bugeja (Starmax) came in third in 24"43.

Tara Abdilla, Angele Sammut and Matthew Rota will be representing Malta in the European Mountain Championships (uphill), which will be held in Porto Muniz, Madeira on 4 July. On the same day, Charles Cilia and Carmen Hili will be representing Malta for the very first time ever in 12th WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Championships 14th Zermatt Marathon (42 km).

Special thanks go to the Mgarr Local Council mayor Paul Vella, the main sponsor Perskindol Malta (NM Arrigo), water sponsor Perla Hargithei (Atlas Trade) as well as Malta Traffic Police and Transport Malta.