Solo successes for the Kenyan Kibiwott and the Ugandan Cheptegei, bronze for the blue Anna Incerti. In the half triumph for Biwott and Kebede. In ten thousand at the Stracittadine, the president of Assindustria Sport Leopoldo Destro: "We have sent a signal, the territory also starts again through sport"
Here we go again! The Padova Marathon returns with its more complete program after two editions affected by the pandemic, and it is immediately a party. Popular party and party on a technical level for an event that never stopped even in the most dramatic period of Covid, but which did not propose the 42-kilometer race since 2019. And the weather was also mild: the dreaded rain pardoned it for a large part of the morning, giving runners from 44 different countries almost ideal conditions for running.
In the men's field the Kenyan Alfonce Kibiwott first crosses the finish line who, shortly after the thirtieth kilometer, places a decisive change of pace by extending his compatriots Elijah Kibor and Gilbert Chumba, who have so far been compact with him. From then on Kibiwott ran solo until he stopped the clock after 2 hours 10'01 ", second best result of his career and best time in the city of the Saint since 2015. For him it is the first success in an international marathon after having reached the podium, however, several times, with the silver in Nairobi in 2021, the bronze in Nanjing in 2019 and in Madrid in 2018 and 2016. The great favorite Fikadu Teferi Girma instead stopped around the 34th kilometer , while Luca Parisi, sixth in 2 hours 21'50 ”, was the first Italian to cross the finish line in Prato della Valle.
In the women's field the turning point is recorded around the 34th kilometer, when the Ugandan Rebecca Cheptegei stretches on the Ethiopian Roman Mengistu. For her, who had made her debut on distance just last October in Nairobi, her victory comes in 2 hours 31'21 ", her new personal best: she is the first athlete in her country to win the distance in Prato della Valle long. Behind her the Eritrean rookie Lemlem Kahsay and Anna Incerti, bronze medalists in what was her last marathon with the Fiamme Azzurre jersey. "The last week was tough, due to a pain in the hip that was felt a lot also in the second half of the race," she revealed at the finish line. «At the urging of my husband Stefano (Scaini, ed) I still decided to introduce myself and I did well: now I'm happy with this medal. I thank Ruggero Pertile who was following the women's race and who encouraged me a lot, helping me. The European Championships in Monaco? I have already achieved the minimum in 2021, let's see what the Federation will decide ».
It should be noted that the marathon also assigned the Veneto regional titles in all categories. The absolute ones were conquered by Roberto Graziotto (HRobert Running Team) in 2 hours 23'24 "and by Anna Furlan (Lib. Piombino Dese) in 3 hours 20'59".
In the half marathon at the start from Abano Terme the big favorite of the eve, the Kenyan Stanely Biwott, on the top step of the podium in an hour 01'57 ", remained in the lead alone already before the 15th kilometer, dictated the law. For him, ruler of the Paris 2012 and New York 2015 marathons, yet another success of a stellar career. According to the Kenyan David Ngure, who repeats the placement of last September, third the Ethiopian Barecha Geleto Tolosa. In the women's field, however, a debut to be framed for the Ethiopian Aberash Kebede Shilina, who wins in an hour 11'13 ”over the Kenyan Veronicah Njeri Maina and the Burundian Cavaline Nahimana.
But the technical aspect is joined by the popular one: about 10 thousand participants in the Stracittadine. "A great and heartfelt participation: it was wonderful to see adults, children and families involved in a day of celebration", underlines the president of Assindustria Sport Leopoldo Destro. "Beyond the numerical feedback, largely positive, it was important to send a signal: it is the whole Paduan territory that restarts, together with its marathon".
