Luke Micallef Perconte, Joanna Camilleri winners at Mtarfa 5km road race

Luke Micallef Perconte (Housing Authority) and Joanna Camilleri (Education) were the overall winners of the second 5 kilometer race organised by MESA this season and which was held last Wednesday at the Mtarfa ByPass.

For this race there was a substantial increase in the number of participating athletes when compared to those who took part in the first race held last November on the Kirkop-Safi circuit.

Luke Micallef Perconte took an early lead which he kept throughout the whole race to win in a good time of 16 minutes and 8 seconds. Jean Paul Debono (AFM) was second in 16 minutes and 51 seconds, while Ryan Farrugia (EUPA) finished in third place in 17 minutes and six seconds. It is worth noting that these three athletes were making their debut in races organised by MESA.

In the ladies category Joanna Camilleri dominated as well to win convincingly in 20 minutes and 40 seconds. Angele Sammut (Health Dept) repeated the result she obtained last November by finishing second in 21 minutes and 20 seconds, while Charla Pia Vella (MCAST Gozo), who was taking part for the first time, was third in 21 minutes and 47 seconds.

A relative novelty for races organised by MESA was the participation of an athlete accompanied by his dog. This athlete, Emanuel Mangion, is a teacher for deaf children, and this was the third race where he was being accompanied by his dog Luna.

Emanuel says that the main aim behind such a participation is to send a subtle message that “animals are our friends and we should integrate them in such activities, especially in a simple activity such as a walk or a race”.