Recently the running national team represented Malta in the 17th European Mountain Championships which were held in Skopje, FYOR Macedonia (uphill and downhill).
The races for Senior Men and Senior Women consisted of two scenic countryside loops starting from Skopje centre up to the imposing Vodno mountain with a total elevation of +/-700m covering a total distance of 11km.
In the Senior Men’s race, Luke Micallef finished in 58th place, Ryan Farrugia in 65th place while Stefan Azzopardi came in 71th position, beating national athletes from Hungary, Israel, Albania, Belgium, Turkey, and Croatia.
In the Senior women’s race, Tara Abdilla finished in 59th, Angele Satariano in 62nd position, while Celine Pace came in 65th position beating national athletes from Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Turkey.
Later in August, the Men’s team took part in for the very first time ever in a World Cup mountain race which was held in Malonno, Italy. The race consisted of 3,5 km with a staggering vertical elevation climb of 1000m. Luke Micallef finished 29th, Stefan Azzopardi 38th, while Ryan Farrugia was 51st among a strong field of top elite mountain runners.
The runners then took part in the 55th edition of the Fletta Trail half-marathon (21.1km +/- 1184m). Luke Micallef secured a very creditable 19th position and managed to secure the sub-1 hour 45 minutes bonus completing the race in 1 hour 42 minutes. Ryan Farrugia was 27th while Stefan Azzopardi finished in 33rd position.
The team in Skopje and Malonno were accompanied by chef-de-mission Gerald Grech, chairman of the Malta Mountain Running Sub-Committee.
The Maltese athletes were supported by Garmin Malta and Perskindol Malta (NM Arrigo) sponsorship.
Currently national athletes are undergoing intensive preparation to participate in the 34th World Mountain Running Championships (uphill) in Canilo, Andorra in September.
