The picturesque race returns to the streets of Naples on February 23
The Napoli Metropolis Half Marathon is about to happen this weekend (February 23) because the quick course attracts high runners from around the globe.
It is named one of many quickest programs in Italy and has witnessed a number of nationwide information, together with Sofiia Yaremchuk’s 68:27 and Yeman Crippa’s 59:26.
Among the many favourites within the males’s elite race is European record-holder Julien Wanders from Switzerland, who ran 59:13 in Ras Al Khaimah six years in the past. He holds 1500m and 5000m nationwide titles from 2016 and 2017 and can be a European 5000m silver medallist.
Wanders will probably be conversant in the streets of Naples, having positioned sixth within the 2022 version of the identical occasion, the identical yr that Italian runner Yemaneberhan Crippa set an Italian nationwide file.
The second quickest runner within the beginning area is Kenya’s Andrew Lorot, who boasts a private better of 59:54, set in Japan in 2023. His compatriot, Edward Konana Koonyo, follows carefully behind, having recorded a time of 60:00 in Belgium final yr.
Daniele Meucci (Getty)
One other Italian hopeful, Daniele Meucci can be within the combine. Meucci is one among Italy’s most achieved distance runners and has competed in three Olympic Video games (London 2012, Rio 2016, and Paris 2024).
His adorned profession features a European marathon gold medal in 2014, plus three different European particular person medals. Meucci’s half-marathon private greatest is 60:11, achieved in Rome in 2021.
Yohanes Chaippinelli is one other robust Italian contender with a 60:45 private greatest from Pisa 2022. His profession highlights embody a number of European medals within the 3000m steeplechase on the under-20 and under-23 championships, in addition to a bronze medal on the 2018 European Championships in Berlin.
“In December, I skilled in Ethiopia, and in January, I used to be in Siena on the Tuscany Camp, working to be in the absolute best form– plenty of hills, descents, and power coaching,” mentioned Chiappinelli.
“I need to have an ideal race, a satisfying one, and I additionally hope to shock myself. The file? To realize an distinctive time, all the things has to align completely on the day. I at all times give my greatest in each race, and I’ll do my utmost.”
Maru Teferi (Getty)
One other one to maintain your eye on is Maru Teferi from Israel, with a half-marathon better of 60:52 and a marathon greatest of two:04:44 (Valencia 2024), the latter of which is an Israeli nationwide file.
The sphere additionally contains Kenyan’s Emmanuel Wafula (61:10) and Zacharia Krop (61:19). Burundian Therence Bizoza, who’s his nation’s half-marathon file (61:30), and Ethiopian Teka Asefa Baryau (61:47) may even possible put in robust performances.
Within the girls’s area, Italy’s high contender is Sofiia Yaremchuk, co-holder of the nationwide half marathon file (68:27), set in Naples final yr.
Sofiia Yaremchuk
“I’ve undergone intense coaching at excessive altitude in Kenya in current weeks. I returned per week in the past and this race will probably be a take a look at to evaluate my athletic situation after altitude coaching. All the pieces is much like final yr, so I anticipate an ideal race,” mentioned Yaremchuk.
She is going to face Kenya’s Gladys Longari Cherop (67:28) and Ethiopia’s Alemitu Olana Tariku, who received under-20 African gold within the 3000m and bronze within the 5000m in 2019. Tariku has a half-marathon better of 1:07:49 from Madrid 2023.
Kenya’s Nelly Jeptoo (69:49), Ethiopia’s Meselu Berhe Kahsay (1:10:21), and Burundi’s Elvanie Nimbona (1:10:32) may even be in rivalry.
Angelika Mach from Poland (1:11:07) returns after her thrilling 2023 win, whereas fellow Pole Alexandra Lisowska, the 2022 European Marathon Champion, may even be within the area.
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, try our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
