Marathon, Italian record in Valencia for Yohanes Chiappinelli

Marathon, in Valencia Italian record for Yohanes Chiappinelli

Kenyan rookie Sabastian Sawe (2h02:05) won the Valencia Marathon, the first sporting event held after the floods a month ago. Among women, success of Ethiopian Megertu Alemu.

Sawe, world half-marathon champion in 2023, finished his first marathon in 2 hours 2 minutes and 5 seconds, becoming the best athlete of the year and the fifth best athlete in history.

Good 13° place for the Italian Yohanes Chiappinelli who with a time of 2h05:24 set the new Italian record improving by 42 seconds the time of 2h06:06 obtained in February by Yeman Crippa in Seville.

A comeback race for the Carabinieri bearer, team gold medalist in the half marathon at the European Championships in Rome 2024, author of a splendid finish with which he improves the record and demolishes the personal best of 2h09:46 achieved last year.

In the final stretch, the 27-year-old Tuscan managed to overtake Iliass Aouani (Fiamme Azzurre), long in contention for the record, who finished 16th in 2h06:06 and tied the second best Italian performance of any era. Also in the spotlight was Pietro Riva (Fiamme Oro), author of the best debut ever for an Italian on the 42.195 kilometers, with 2h07:37 in 25th place.

Among women success Sara Nestola (Calcestruzzi Corradini Excelsior Rubiera) in her first career marathon è 21st with a promising 2h29:12. The organizers of the Valencia Marathon had thought of canceling the race, but in the end decided to keep it to send "a hug to this wounded city and a promise of recovery".