Long-distance athlete Luke Micallef has registered the best-ever time by a Maltese athlete in the European Cross Country Championships.

Maltese athletes landed positive results at the European Cross Country Championships which took place in the beautiful surroundings of La Mandria Castle on the outskirts of Turin, in Italy.

In this year’s competition, Luke Micallef continued to establish himself as one of the top Maltese runners on the middle distance, completing the arduous and hilly route of 9,572m in a time of 32 minutes and 58 seconds, the best ever registered by a Maltese athlete at these European Championships.

Micallef’s timing earned him a place among the best 70 European cross-country athletes in a field comprising some of the best names in international athletics.

Olympic Champion, Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who won the event for the sixth time on the day – took part alongside Emile Cairess, the current British cross-country champion, and Italian star Yemaneberhan Crippa.

In Piedmont, Gozitan athlete David Borg also had a strong performance, running for the first time at this level.

Borg ran a distance of 7,662 m, completing the hilly and slippery race in 28 minutes and 32 seconds in the under-23 age category. Obtaining a respectable placing despite competing against athletes two years his senior.

Youngster Gabriel Farrugia – who competed in the under 20 age category – finished the 5,722 metre course with a time of 19 minutes and 54 seconds finished ahead of established athletes from Spain, Switzerland, Croatia, Portugal, and Denmark among others.

The participation of the Maltese athletes was supported by the NDSF Funds, Sport Malta and the Malta Olympic Committee.