Broken records dominate as Nouiri wins Malta Marathon

Farley takes women’s honours

A couple of hours after the first of 2000 athletes set out to run this year’s edition of the Malta Marathon and Half Marathon, Moroccan runner Redouan Nouiri broke the race record after finishing with a time of 2:13:18 on Sunday.

The previous record holder Muhammed Hajjy, also hailing from Morrocco, had set the previous record ten years ago with a 2:16:06 time. But Nouiri came in around three minutes earlier among cheers at the finish line in Sliema.

I’m tired but very happy today, especially after breaking the record,” Nouiri told the Times of Malta.

Nouiri, who was just a few seconds away from his personal best, led ahead of compatriot Hicham Boufar, who finished after 2:18:12, and Andrew Grech, third overall who made it in 2:31:42.

“The course is very beautiful, but, in some sections, the wind was annoying. I have to congratulate the organisers for putting together a practically perfect event.,” Nouiri said.

In the women’s category, Scottish runner Jemina Farley led throughout the race, finishing in 2:36:51. She was followed by Josann Attard Pulis ‑ second in 2:55:55 ‑ and Dzintra Grech, who completed the podium with a 3:11:19 finish.

For Farley, this was also a personal best after having finished the Loch Ness Marathon with around six seconds more than Sunday’s time.

Half Marathon

Maltese winners dominated the 38th edition of the Half Marathon as Luke Micallef and Lisa Marie Bezzina won their respective categories.

Micallef won with a 1:06:55 time, ahead of second-placed Shaun Galea (1:11:06), and Aaron Mifsud (1:11:15).

In the women’s category, Bezzina won the race after finishing with a 1:19:03 time. In second place was Edit Filo (1:25:24), and Sophia Moosbrugger (1:26:58) was third.