A major honour missing Pembroke Athleta last season, which saw the club triumphant both in the Road Running League and the T & F Clubs’ League, was the Road Relay at Marsaskala, which was conceded to rival club St Patrick’s, who on the day were 34 seconds faster.
This year, with the club well positioned to retain the Road League crown, we fully merited the first major competition of the year when our magnificent foursome Mark Herrera, an established name in Maltese athletics, freshly turned Junior Luke Camilleri, vintage Brian Magri and ever-improving Dario Mangion, completed the course a full minute ahead of St Patrick’s, enough to make them green – with envy perhaps for their lost crown?
To make it another first for Pembroke our Women’s team finished victorious too, in the process breaking the admittedly long series of wins by St. Patrick’s, to make it a glorious double in this competition. The club’s fair foursome, all representatives of a Malta National squad, either in the recent past or at the present time, completed the 20kms in a time of 1hr20.40, with long distance queen Lisa Marie Bezzina finishing her lap in 17.56 minutes, a superb time bested only by Carol Walsh the last time Pembroke girls won this honour. Lisa was followed, for the second leg, by Lara Scerri, again in full training for further track exploits and a possible re-call to the National team, then by the rising name in coaching and former GSSE medallist Angie Mangion, with anchor being provided by the hottest name in Maltese Triathlon Hannah Pace, adding another trophy to her growing collection.
Undoubtedly this was Pembroke at its best, rising to the occasion in the face of growing competition from old dominant clubs in local athletics La Salle, newcomers Athletix and a resurgent Birkirkara St Joseph, besides old rivals St Patrick’s, Zurrieq Wolves and AS Libertas. Suffice it to say that 21 teams from 8 clubs took part, seven within the females’ section, the biggest amount in the last decade if not longer.
All the more sweet this historic Pembroke double. AWESOME, THE STUFF OF CHAMPIONS.
Anthony Fava
Public Relations Officer
For full results, Marsaskala Road Relay Results
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