The twenty-eighth edition of the Rome Marathon has ended, opened this morning by the flight of the “Frecce Tricolori” acrobatic team. In the season that marked the record number of entries, given that almost 30,000 people showed up for the start, the victory went to the Moroccan Taoufik Allam.
The winners of Acea Run Rome The Marathon
The gold medalist finished the 42 km distance in 2h07’43”, beating the Kenyan Wilfred Kigen by about one minute who finished the race in 2h08’45”. The bronze medal went to another Kenyan athlete, Rogers Keror, who recorded a 2h10’50”. Taoufik Allam, with his victory, went not far from the marathon record, which was achieved last year by the Ethiopian Bekele Fikre Tefera.
As for the athletes, the gold medal was won by the Kenyan Betty Chepkwony in 2h23’01” followed by the Ethiopian Fozya Jemal Amid in 2h25’08”. Third place for compatriot Zinash Getachew in 2h25’58”.
Here the complete ranking with all times
The best placements of the Italians
Excellent performance also by the Italians, given that among the first ten to finish the race, there were three compatriots. Thus Neka Crippa finished in a hypothetical Italian podium who, with his 2h12’10” finished sixth in the general classification. Behind Neka Crippa, athlete registered with the Army, Stefano La Rosa who finished in eighth position overall in 2h18’01”. Third best time, among the Italians, for Alessandro Giacobazzi who finished the course immediately behind La Rosa in 2h22’13”.
Athlete comments
“I was very determined to win – commented the winner, the Moroccan Taoufik Allam – The race was excellent and the hares very fast at the start. The last few kilometers were difficult because of the cobblestones but despite everything it was a good race that I’m happy to have won. I am very happy to have raced in Rome: a splendid city, I came to win and I won”
“My second debut went really well: I’m really happy – said Nekagenet Crippa – I improved my personal distance score by about 9′ but from today I can really say that a new sporting life begins for me: that of the marathon runner. I really thank the hare Dickson Simba and my friend Marco Salami, they were fundamental in achieving this result. I’m even happier thinking back to some of the difficulties along the way. During the first part I was calm and in the second part I increased my pace, unfortunately I caught up with tired athletes who weren’t suited to my comeback plan. I want to dedicate a special thanks to my coach Piero Incalza and my Army sports group”.
“What a beautiful Rome and how much I enjoyed racing in this beautiful city with a perfect climate – said the Kenyan winner Betty Chepkwony – I think I ran the first part in a very intelligent way, paying attention to the various passages but I think I can run much more. I’m really happy with my result today on such a complex course. I’ve been running seriously for just over two years and having improved my personal by about 7 minutes in Rome makes me very happy. I thank my coach Damian who has been following me since October and has helped me transform my career”.
Mayor’s thanks
“Congratulations to Taoufik Allam and Betty Chepkwony winners of the competitive race of Run Rome The Marathon and to the over 30,000 participants in the Rome marathon, the most beautiful in the world – commented the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri – Thank you for giving us a day of sport unique, in the sign of solidarity and peace”.
