Morrocan Elfelhi wins Malta Marathon

Abdelhakim Elfelhi is the winner of the 2016 Malta Marathon after the Moroccan runner beat off strong competition to cross the finish line first.

Elfelhi finished the race in 2 hours 18 minutes and 56 seconds. Nassef Ahmed and Mokraji finished in second and third respectively.

Defending chamption Mohammed Hajjy, who won the previous six editions of the marathon, had to settle with fourth place after losing pace during the final two kilometres.

The first Maltese athlete to cross the finish line was Jonathan Balzan, who finished in eight place overall after completing the race in 2 hours 40 minutes 59 seconds.

Croatian runner Nicolina Sustich won the women’s title after crossing the finish line in two hours 50 minutes and 56 seconds, while local runnner Josann Attard Pulis clinched second place after completing the 42km race in two hours 56 minutes.

Charlton Debono won the half-marathon, while Romania’s Livio Crotoriu and Andrew Grech finished in second and third place respectively.

A total of 4,350 participants from some 50 different countries participated in the 42 km run. This year’s edition was the 31st edition of the Malta Marathon.