Fifteen year old Iris Merle Camilleri won the 2026 Malta Mountain Running Championships in Binġemma, marking one of the youngest national victories in the competition’s history. The event, held on a 5.6km course with a 139m ascent, brought together Malta’s leading off road runners.
Camilleri, representing St Patrick’s, recorded a winning time of 23:32. She finished ahead of Tara Abdilla, who placed second in 23:44, and Isaura Camilleri, who finished third in 23:45, in a closely contested women’s race decided in the final stages.
The result places Camilleri among Malta’s emerging athletes in off road running, with the performance coming in a season that includes preparation toward the European Athletics Off Road Running Championships in Kamnik, Slovenia.
In the men’s race, Luke Micallef of AC Pembroke secured his eighth national mountain running title with a time of 18:51. He maintained control of the race to finish ahead of Isaac Attard, who placed second in 19:32, while Tommy Wallbank completed the podium in 19:48.
The championships in Binġemma featured competitive fields across both categories, with athletes navigating a demanding course that combined sustained climbing and varied terrain. The results contributed to national rankings and selection considerations for upcoming international events.
