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For mostrunners, this iswhen their seasonreaches aclimax. TheMaltaMarathon isthe landmarkevent in a longdistancerunner’scalendar andfor many it isonly an injurythat can keepthem awayfrom takingpart.Up till lastyear, JonathanBalzan was the same. The firstMaltese in both the full and half marathon on a number of occasions, his presence was agiven. This year, however, will bedifferent as a new objective hasovertaken the desire to pushhimself at the Malta Marathonlevel: the Games for the SmallStates of Europe.“I decided to go for the Games for the Small States of Europe mainlyafter the Malta Challenge was over and I had obtained a creditableresult in Ta’ Qali Road RunningLeague. At the time I had beenpreparing for longer distances – Ihad won the Zurrieq Half Marathonsome weeks earlier and to getsuch a good result in a 10k after that training was veryencouraging.”Initially, it took a lot of convincingfor him to agree. “I decided to gofor it mainly because peoplepushed me in that direction’” headmits. “They had been telling methat I should start aiming for theGSSE before the Zurrieq Half but Idecided to hold back.”“Eventually I agreed because Ithink that I stand a realistic chanceand also because it is the onlyachievement that is missing frommy career. Qualifying would top itall.”Even so, missing the MaltaMarathon will be hard for him.“The Marathon was the mainreason why I took so long todecide. Over the past 3 yrs I’vehad some great achievements, Iwas the first Maltese for threetimes and last year I establishedthe best ever registered by aMaltese in the marathon distance.All of this makes me feel sohonoured: it had become mybaby.”“However people told me thatanother marathon will come up,and you can always choose to doone abroad from the manyavailable. This GSSE, on the other hand, will probably be my lastchance given my age. I had togive it a try.”It is, you sense, a huge sacrifice for him particularly as there is noguarantee of him making the finalsquad for Cyprus. “There is anofficial time for minimumqualification that is based onprevious GSSE results. It is not aneasy target to reach but we are

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The Shamrock

The official publication of Saint Patrick’s Athletic ClubIssue No. 41 March 2009

Destination Cyprus

First Again: Jonathan Balzan Wants toReplicate His Road Success on the Track

Photo: Justin Mifsud

Determined to Suceed

I was reading an interview with long distance legend HaileGebrselassie and the following comments really struckme:"We had to stay in the Sheraton next to Heathrow butwhen we arrived it was about 11 o'clock in the eveningand the middle of the winter. It was impossible to trainoutside.”"I started to think about how I could train and then Inoticed that my hotel corridor was very long. I put on myshoes and started to run up and down it, and then someof my friends joined me.”"By that time it was close to midnight and people startedto come out of their rooms to look at us. Do you knowwhat happened? They all thought it was an emergencyand started following us. One old woman was shoutingand running down the corridor in her pyjamas.""The reason I'm telling you this is that I didn't want to missa day's training. I always tell young athletes the samething, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what mustyour top priority be? Running'."In my life I do a lot of things but I never forget mytraining. Athletics is in my blood. The top priority mustalways be training, training. This is a discipline. You haveto do it."It is a telling story, one that offers an insight into whatneeds to be done to really succeed in sport as in anyaspect of life. Many would point to Gebrselassie’supbringing, his DNA or his training in high altitude as thereason for his phenomenal success throughout his career.And, whilst all that is true, there were countless others who were born in the same conditions but didn’t succeed:Gebrselassie did because he was disciplined and determined to do so.

Games for the Small States of Europe

During these days, the athletes who are aiming to make it to Cyprus for the Games of the Small States of Europestart revving up their preparation in the hope of hitting the qualification marks. St. Patrick’s AC has a number of athletes with genuine hopes of doing so.These include Jonathan Balzan who, having won all that there is to win on the road, will try his chances on thetrack. The qualification mark is a difficult one but if there is someone who can beat it then it surely is Balzan whohas proven over and over again that he is the best male long distance runner on the island.Good luck to him, therefore, just as our best wishes go to Giselle Camilleri who actually won a bronze medal backin the 2003 edition of the games as well as Angela Sammut who achieved the qualification mark two years backonly to find out that the squad had already been chosen.

THE SHAMROCK

The official publication of St. Patrick’s Athletic ClubIssue No. 41 – March 2009

Editor

: Paul Grech

Sub-Editor:

Jonathan Balzan

Address:

St. Helen, Vjal ix-Xarolla, Zurrieq

Telephone:

21 640 871

Mobile:

7901 4601

E-Mail:

p_grech@di-ve.com

Website:

www.stpatricksac.info

Antoine Attard

President

Stephen Spiteri

Vice President, MAAA Representative &Shamrock Co-ordinator

Joe Zerafa

Treasurer

Rose Tabone

Officer Juniors

Lee Micallef

Public Relations

Peter Barbara

Asst. Sec & Social Events co-ordinator

Cyprian Dalli

Secretary

Paul Grima

Clubhouse Director

Roger Zammit

Technical Director

Any contributions for the next issue of theShamrock may be sent to the editor.

Paul Grech’sPaul Grech’sPaul Grech’sPaul Grech’sEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorial

The Shamrock

March ‘09

2www.stpatricksac.info

◄ Continued from Page 1

confident that, barring unforeseencircumstances including the recurrence of injury, I will be able to attain a time that isgood enough to qualify.”Making it more difficult for Balzan will be thefact that the GSSE will take him away from theroad. “The GSSE race will be on track not onroad so I have to train more on the track inorder to adapt, be able to learn how to reactand also to familiarize myself with itparticularly since the track is not my favourite!”That said, the faith is there for him to make it.“I am hopeful as otherwise I would not beworking so hard to reach this goal! We knowthat it won’t be easy, but we also know that itis not impossible.”

Giselle Camilleri: This is What I’ve BeenAiming For

Jonathan Balzan won’t be the only long distancerunner hailing from St. Patrick’s who will be looking tomake it to the GSSE. Giselle Camilleri, winner of abronze medal in the 10k back in 2003, is also aiming tomake it to Cyprus.“These games are what I have been aiming for since Imissed the last ones because of a fractured anklebone. There were moments when I thought I would notrestart and rehabilitation took me 10 months. Lastyear, however, I targeted the European cup and Isucceeded. This year I’m aiming for these games, theEuropean Cup and other important track races.”“I would prefer to go for 3k and 5km,” she says of her targets, “but since there is no 3km then I will run 10kmand 5km.”So far she has had a decent enough season, eventhough she is reluctant in admitting that. “Well, I can’tsay I have had a very good season. I made acomeback from the ankle fracture and that is a bigachievement. However, hopefully, the best is still tocome and I will persist.”“I am training to the best of my abilities but my anklestill gives me trouble so in order not to load it too muchI also cross train.Having come back from here latest injury, however,she has all the faith that she will make it.“I am confident that, God willing, I will get there. I havebetter personal best time than the qualification mark soit is a matter of sticking to my training schedule andtake necessary measures to ensure I keep injuries atbay.”

A MINUTE’S SILENCE

St. Patrick’s AC Committee and the editor of theShamrock would like to offer their condolences toRuben Debono for the loss of his father.

MEMBERSHIP FOR THE YEAR 2009

Members are urged to renew their membership for the year 2009.Those athletes who want to join St. Patrick’s AC can do so either by contacting members of thecommittee or else by downloading a copy of the membership form from the club’s websitewww.stpatricksac.info.

All forms and payments are to be sent to the Club Treasurer atWintermoor,69,Karmenu Vassallo Streetl-Iklin IKL 1310

MEMBERSHIP RATES

Juniors €9.00

Adults €18.00Adult + Junior €25.00

www.stpatricksac.infoThe Shamrock

March ‘09

GSSE Hopefuls: JonathanBalzan and Giselle Camilleri

Photo: Justin Mifsud