Agones Torq 5k proves to be a crowd puller

The recently held Agones Torq 5k Trail Run was a crowd puller, attracting over 140 registrations in what is normally considered an ‘off season’ race.

Trail Running has become an Agones SFC trademark. Trail Running was a relatively unknown discipline until a few years ago when a group of enthusiasts started meeting up and discovering rugged and often exposed scenery in Malta.

The Torq 5k Trail Run held in the scenic outskirts of Gudja village proved how much the sport is growing.

Athletes joining the fray were seasoned road athletes as well as trail run veterans as well as complete newcomers to the sport.

Winners of the Race were Tara Abdilla and Drew Lang – both road running veterans. Abdilla discovered trail running earlier on this year when she took part in the Trail Run Series organised by Agones SFC and was the overall winner. Abdilla won the race comfortably with a 2 minute 16 second advantage over Dzintra Grech, who also had a good trail running season.

Runner Paula Briffa is seasoned road runner but a newcomer to trail.

Drew Lang needs no introduction local athletics circles but this was his first trail running appearance. Lang had tough competition from Pierre Chicco but Lang had the better of him for a mere three seconds. Third on the podium was Natalino Farrugia.

“Trail running is relatively inexpensive sport, all you need is a good pair of trail running shoes and off you go. Trail runs and races are off the beaten track so it takes people away from the daily rat race and chaos that we normally live in, so that is why we are seeing an increase in participation”, explained Warren Muscat, President, Agones SFC.

“We are seeing new faces everytime and our weekly trail runs are always made up a good group of runners.”

The Agones SFC Torq 5k was supported by Torq and was held under the auspices of the Malta Amateur Athletics Association. Prizes were given to winners and top runners in each Age Group at the end of the race.

Agones SFC Torq 5k Results

Males Females 1st Drew Lang (17:51) Tara Abdilla (19:00) 2nd Pierre Chicco (17:54) Dzintra Grech (22:16) 3rd Natalino Farrugia (18:09) Paula Briffa (23:02)

La Salle AC was the winner of overall Female and Male team events.

For more information on Agones SFC and their events please visit http://www.agonessfc.eu/ or visit their Facebook page.