Yeman Crippa, fifth place in marathon debut

Yeman Crippa fifth

In his marathon debut, European 10,000-meter champion Yeman Crippa placed fifth in Milan in 2h08:57. The Italian’s eagerly awaited first race in the most classic distance ends with a result that puts him in the Italian top ten all-time, in tenth place. But it is also the second time nationally for a rookie on the 42.195 kilometers, behind only the 2h08:34 achieved last year in the Lombard capital itself by Iliass Aouani, who became Italian recordman a couple of weeks ago with 2h07:16 in Barcelona. In the first part, the race developed at a less rapid pace than expected, with a partial at the half of 1h03:51 for a draught of 18 athletes, while the initial goal was around 1h03:20. Then the Fiamme Oro’s Trentino, pushed by the cheers of the public, remained in the leading group that still counted about ten after 30 kilometers passing in 1h30:47 before losing ground, also held back by stomach problems in the final stretch. Triumphing in the Enel Milano Marathon was Ugandan newcomer Andrew Kwemoi in 2h07:14, author of the decisive action at the 35th kilometer refueling, ahead of Kenyan Timothy Kipkorir Kattam (2h07:53) and Rwandan John Hakizimana (2h08:18), fourth Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa Gonfa (2h08:48) on a warm spring morning (12 degrees temperature at the start) that then warmed up in the finish. Sicilian Giuseppe Gerratana (Aeronautica, 2h14:44) finished 13th.

“I knew it was going to be an adventure, my first experience in a marathon,” says Yeman Crippa. “In the end I managed to complete it, arriving with a smile. But there was no shortage of unforeseen events because about five kilometers from the finish line I threw up in my stomach twice, probably due to not having digested the last energy gels well, and the race got very complicated. I was aiming for the Italian record, even though we were already above the schedule at the half, however I had good feelings up to that point. It was not easy but I held on, it was the first one and I wanted to finish it. I probably got too nervous in the first half, when I realized that the pace was not what I wanted, wasting energy,” comments the Italian who does not hide, as usual. And in the future of Yeman Crippa, Italian record holder in all distances from 3000 to half, there will still be the marathon. “I don’t want to come out of this race defeated, which will help me grow. I will try again next season, trying to arrive even better prepared, knowing that you can do much better. I now plan to be back in action in the 10 km road race on May 14 in Monza, and to be at the start on June 3 in the 10,000 European Cup in Pacé, France, where I will be looking for the minimum for the World Championships in August in Budapest.”