XXIII Cetilar® Pisa Marathon, Meucci is there but the favorites are Giovanni Grano and Lenah Jerotich
PISA – Over 2 thousand participants registered for this Sunday at the XXIII Cetilar® Marathon from Pisa, in addition to the Olympic distance marathon of 42.195km, the half marathon “Pisanina” 21.097 km and the 4 miles, event organized by 1063 SSDARL, start at 9 and arrival expected in the splendid Piazza dei Miracoli, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will be the goal of arrival for everyone.
History and tradition also reported on medals scheduled for all the finishers of the Cetilar Marathon of Pisa, inspired this year by the exhibition “The Macchiaioli” present at Palazzo Blu Pisa. Medals like every year made by Fratelli Pazzaglia, a unique object that portrays runners running in a revisited Piazza del Duomo, with haystacks and farmers at work, a scenario common to many works on display at Palazzo Blu and which will bring back memories of the race.
Runners from all over the world will discover long straight stretches and a dynamic route capable of reconciling the need for smoothness with the possibility of admiring the historical and naturalistic beauties of a unique scenario in the world. Once again this year the competition will see professionals and runners put themselves to the test in the competitive 42 km and 21 km, while family members, children and amateurs will be in the 4 miles.
CURIOSITY – There are 750 foreign participants, coming from 62 different nations, leaders the United Kingdom with as many as 100 appearances followed by France and Germany tied with 86 athletes. Significant number of athletes from Maltaa tradition that repeats itself and that this year has led to counting 24 runners at the start, also noteworthy is the number of Scandinavians. Represent yourself all continents, with athletes from Africa, Asia, America, Oceania and, of course, Europe. Athletes from, just to name a few, Brazil, Canada, China, New Zealand and the USA. Italy full on the starting line with athletes from all regions. After Tuscany landlady, important numbers from Emilia Romagna and Lombardy than with athletes Milanese it is also the first province in terms of number, after the Tuscan ones. The women’s share is also interesting, 25% are women.
THE AGE – The 93-year-old is back, and it was a certainty Squadron Angel (Asd Marathon Club Pisa) athlete with an extraordinary palmarès, who has raced countless times on these roads, last year the protagonist of an extraordinary achievement. The 76-year-old accompanied him on the graduation podium Rossana Lewis. I’m the 19 year old though Agatha Karpa and the 13 year old Thomas. There are also those who have chosen the Pisa Marathon to celebrate their birthday, so best wishes to Nicola Miller, Massimo Andreossi and Marco Nesti who will blow out 146 candles together.
THE MEN – Men’s start list with seasoned athletes, the Italian-Moroccan Khalid Jbari 2h19’36”, the Spanish Vicente Gutiérrez, the British Richard Gibbsand Finnish Janne Silvennoinen. The absolute favorite of the eve will be fighting for Italy John Grano (New Atl. Isernia) 2h13’40” and other important Italians such as Andrea SoffientinI (Asd Dinamo Sport) 2h22’29”, Philip Bovanini 2h32’03” and Francis Rizzotti (Km Sport) with 2h33’55”. These athletes are all new to the streets of Pisa, whose smooth and flowing course may hold them the opportunity to improve. In the race too the Pisan Daniele Meucci that after the excellent eighth place in New York, in the first part of the race he will play the role of personal pacer of his friend and training partner Giovanni Grano in the hunt for the personal best.
In the Pisanina Half Marathon at the start Alessio Terrasi (GP Parco Apuane) Italian marathon champion 2018 who boasts 1h05’04” over 21.097km and Louis Del Buono (SEF Stamura Ancona) who has a personal best of 1h08’52”.
WOMEN – At the top of the list of women we find the winner of 2021 Lena Jerotic who has also held the race record since last year with 2h37’30”. She returns after having already run in the Pisa Marathon 2021 where she finished 3rd in 2h46’59” the Australian Melissa Gibson which at the end of February of this year improved in Seville by lowering the personal best to 2h43’48”. Seventh marathon for her this year, in Italy she also ran in Terni at the beginning of February.
Also on the list Claudia Marietta (Gs Lammari) with a staff of 2h42’59” he is growing, in Turin first step of the podium in 2021 and second in the 2022 edition, where he filed his personal best by 4′ and then improved it by a further 3′ at the last edition of the Valencia Marathon on Sunday 4 December. Marietta is not new to the Pisa Marathon, last year she conquered the fifth place in women (second in Italy) with 2h50’35”.
The ultramarathon runner is just behind her Denise Tappatà (SEF Stamura Ancona) Italian champion 100 km on the road in the special edition of the 100 km del Passatore in 2021, winner of the Colle-Marathon, the Forlì Marathon and the Treviso Marathon 2022, the latter race where she signed the his staff of 2h45’45”. At the start too Anna Zilio (Km Sport) recent 2nd at the Verona Marathon and who has a personal best of 2h52’43”.