15‑year‑old Iris Merle Camilleri stuns field to win Mountain Running Championships

Fifteen‑year‑old Iris Merle Camilleri delivered a sensational performance to win the Garmin 2026 Malta Mountain Running Championships, becoming one of the youngest national champions in the event’s history. Her victory headlined a memorable day in Binġemma, where Malta’s top off‑road runners battled over a demanding 5.6km course featuring a continuous 139m ascent and sweeping countryside terrain.

Camilleri, representing St Patrick’s, clocked 23:32, edging seasoned trail runner Tara Abdilla (23:44) and Isaura Camilleri (23:45) in a dramatic finish. Her triumph marks a major breakthrough and positions her as a rising star ahead of the European Athletics Off‑Road Running Championships in Kamnik, Slovenia.

In the men’s race, Luke Micallef of AC Pembroke reaffirmed his dominance, claiming his eighth national title in a commanding 18:51. Isaac Attard (19:32) continued his strong season with second place, followed closely by promising youngster Tommy Wallbank (19:48).

The championships, organised by Athletics Malta with the support of the Mġarr Local Council, once again showcased the depth of Malta’s endurance talent and served as a key selection race for the upcoming European championships.

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