Crossing the finish line in 2h08’23”, Kiprono won the race in the first marathon of his career.
In the women’s marathon, victory for Kenyan Peris Lagat Jerono in 2h29’29”.
Chills and emotions at the start at dawn in Rome, a marathon that will go down in history
The Acea Run4Rome solidarity relay took place for the first time
Rome at dawn is back to running, to rejoice, to live the passion of sport thanks to Acea Run Rome The Marathon, the new edition of the international marathon in Rome. The March 2020 edition having been postponed due to Covid-19, after the last edition in March 2019, the Imperial Forums were once again the magical setting for a memorable day of sport.
The long-awaited dawn finally arrived, a magical scenario unique in the world nestled between the Colosseum, the Altare della Patria, the Roman Forum, the indomitable legionaries of the Roman Historical Group, the lyric tenor Carlo Assogna first singing the national anthem and then, to mark the start and sound the charge, the solo ‘At dawn I will win”. Chills, emotions, adrenaline pumping and the liberating race start to conquer a goal that will go down in the history of Rome and its marathon. An event organised for the first time by Infront Italy, Corriere dello Sport – Stadio and Italia Marathon Club.
Winner of the Acea Run Rome The Marathon 2021 was the Kenyan newcomer Clement Langat Kiprono in 2h08’23” followed by Emmanuel Naibei, Kenya, in 2h08’28”. The Ethiopian Deresa Ulfata Geleta came third in 2h08’42”. Michele Palamini (GA Vertovese) came tenth, the first Italian to cross the finish line in 2h22’47”, a fitting way to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. The highly anticipated Giorgio Calcaterra, in his 250th marathon, finished to a standing ovation from the public in 2h42’05”, a race he did not want to miss despite only last Sunday running a 100km ultramarathon in Holland.
“I am happy with this victory in Rome – the first words of the winner Kiprono – I had never run a marathon before, my best result was a half marathon in Houston in 2018 in 1h00’29”. I live in Eldoret, Iten in Kenya”.
Among the women, success for the Kenyan Peris Lagat Jerono in 2h29’29”, not far from her personal best of 2h28’27” in China in May 2018. When she arrived exhausted at the finish line, she once again proved to everyone how difficult and demanding it is, but also how fantastic it is to run a marathon. The award ceremony carried out on the stretcher, unable to get up, escorted by the Red Cross. 2h30’50” was the time of her compatriot, coming second, Judith Jurubet who, instead, ran a personal best, wiping out the 2h33’52” in Eldoret last June. Third place on the podium, which was then tinged with the colours of Ethiopia, went to Jifar Fantu Zewude who finished in 2h32’02”. Claudia Maretta (G.S. Lammari) was the first Italian woman to cross the finish line, in 3h04’05”.
The Italian Paralympic marathon titles were awarded at the Acea Run Rome The Marathon. There were four new champions, three athletes belonging to the categories reserved for visual impairment, and one belonging to the brain injury class. Winning the T11 title was Luca Aiello (Athletic Terni) who completed the run in 4:04.37. Among the T12, a gold medal for Giovanni Pili D’Ottavio (Villa De Sanctis) who, with 3:36.36, had the better of Francesco Paolo Giannini (Barletta Sportiva), silver in 4:35.57. Club mate Vincenzo Cascella was first in the T13 category (4:35.56), while the T38 marathon runner Giacomo Grillo (Athletic Terni) won the Italian title in 5:26.09.
Rome woke up with a river of people, running joyfully and focussed, on the streets not only for the marathon but also for the Acea Run4Rome solidarity Relay in which hundreds of teams made up of 4 people participated. Four relay runners, four standard bearers who ran challenging the 42km of the marathon but also for a good cause. Nine non-profit organisations are members of the Charity Program: AIRC, Double Difesa, Dynamo Camp, Alzheimer Marathon Foundation, Operation Smile Italia Foundation Onlus and Sport Senza Frontiere, La Pelle Azzurra, La Stella di Lorenzo and Rotary International. Upon arrival, several personalities, including the show-girl and Paralympic medal athlete Annalisa Minetti who ran with a special team of all blind people and Lisa Migliorini ‘The Fashion Jogger’ who ran the fourth stage of the Corriere dello Sport team – Stadio.
At the starting line of the Acea Run Rome The Marathon, also the Mayor of Rome Capital, Virginia Raggi and the Councillor for Sport, Tourism, Youth Policies and Major City Events of Rome Capital, Veronica Tasciotti, after having officially given the off, took to the road to run the first few kilometres of the competition. Alongside them were two exceptional guardian angels, Angelo Diario, President of the Sport Commission of Roma Capitale, and the former Italian champion, winner of the Rome and New York marathon in 1998, Franca Fiacconi.
Also involved in the marathon was the very young Sara Vargetto, a very sweet and always smiling girl suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis who uses a wheelchair to race. As always, she was accompanied in the race by her father Paolo. Together they crossed the finish line in 3h49’56”, their goal of under 3h50’00” being achieved.
Space also Saturday 18 September and Sunday 19 in Rome, as well as throughout Italy, for the Stracittadina Fun Race 5k, which was run freely and almost everywhere. A different way to be there, to feel part of this wonderful marathon project that is mainly about sport, wellness and inclusion.
Acea Run Rome The Marathon is a project that lasted several months and that helped marathon runners to finish the marathon, relay or the Stracittadina with a smile, inviting people to move, to get involved in sport. Projects such as My First Run with training tables and theoretical webinars by 6Più, then the Get Ready collective training sessions also including Archeorunning, training and cultural visits to the city at the same time by Isabella Calidonna.
All marathon runners, together with their families, were also able to benefit from discounts, special agreements, free admission to the most important cultural attractions of the city, Rome is the perfect city for the combination of sport, tourism and culture.
Men’s results
1 Kiprono Langat Clement – KENYA – 2h08’23”
2 Naibie Emmanuel – KENYA – 2h08’28”
3 Geleta Ulfata Deresa – ETHIOPIA – 2h08’42”
Women’s results
F1 Cherono Lagat Peris – KENYA – 2h29’29”
F2 Jurubet Judith – KENYA – 2h30’50”
F3 Jifar Fantu Zewunde – ETHIOPIA – 2h32’02”