ASTI – Emotions are also announced on the track for the 2024 edition of Grifone Meeting-City of Astischeduled Thursday 23 May at the school camp in via Gerbi. In addition to the already announced challenge on the weight platform between the Azzurri Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weiron 800 meters will be competing there Olympic silver medal Ferguson Rotich. The Kenyan, sixteenth on the all-time world list with a time of 1’42”54, was beaten only by his compatriot in Tokyo Emmanuel Korir after an exciting finish that led him to recover three positions in the last 50 meters of the race. Rotich, 34 years old, ran 1’44”90 on the Nairobi high track in 2024 and has been at the top internationally since 2016, when he won the Diamond League ranking in the 800 metres.
In addition to Rotich, Kenya will field what is announced as the new name of the specialty: Aaron Kemei Cheminingwa26 years old, who made his debut with the Kenyan national team on March 20th, surprisingly winning the gold medal at the African Games in Accra (Ghana) in 1’44”10, improving by more than two seconds compared to the personal best of 2023. The 21-year-old Italian is also competing Francesco Pernici (1’45”23 last year), which also includes the Bosnian expert on the Asti track Amel Tukathirteenth in the all-time world ranking with a time of 1’42”51 which dates back to 2’15.
The performances of the students were also of excellent quality 800 women’s and gods 1500 male who, awaiting confirmation from the Italians, promise a great day of middle distance racing in Asti. Among the women she will be on the track Vhere is Chebet Kiprotich, (Kenya), 1’58”26 personal best, fourth at the recent World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and bronze medal at the African Games in Accra. With her there will be the naturalized Kenyan for the Bahrain Nelly Jepkosgei, 1’58”93 personal best. The Luxembourger is confirmed in the 1500 men Charles Grethen(3’32”86 personal best), and the South African Tshepo Tshite (3’32″68), both semi-finalists at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. With them a group of athletes capable of going under 3’35”, led by the Ethiopians Ashenafi and Gudisa.
On the platforms, next to Leonardo Fabbri (22.37 personal best, silver medal at the World Championships in Budapest 2023, bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2024) and Zane Weir (22.44, European indoor champion in Istanbul 2022), two excellent races should be noted pole vault. Among the men, the blues Simone Bertelli (5.55 personal) e Matteo Olivieri (5.52) will face the Portuguese Pedro Buarowhich rose this winter to 5.82, with the French Emig Robin (5.75) and the Swiss Alberto Dominik (5.71).
In the women’s field, the young talent from Turin Great Nnachi, in 2023 silver medal at the under 20 European Championships and improved to 4.45 during the indoor season, she will face the other Italians Sonia Malavisi (4.51) e Maria Roberta Gherca (4.40).
The Grifone Meeting, a stage of the Challenger Continental Tour, was presented yesterday at the headquarters of the Bank of Asti in the presence of the vice-president of the Piedmont Region Fabio Carosso, the vice-president of the Province of Asti Simone Nosenzo and the deputy mayor of Asti Stefania Morra. «The Region’s commitment to sport has been constant since the beginning of the legislature – said Carosso. The quality of this event is further testimony to this». «When they offered us to host the meeting – added Morra – we were almost scared by the importance of the event, but now we are sure that we have made a good choice, after the considerable investments that our Administration has made for sport».
The event, organized by Durbano Gas Energy of Rivarolo with the collaboration of the Asti companies Vittorio Alfieri, Brancaleone and Atletica 2.2, takes place for the first time in Asti after his debut in Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto. The date of May 23rd falls two weeks away European Championships in Rome (7-12 June) and just three days from the deadline for achieving the participation standards.
Wednesday 22 MayOn the eve of the Meeting, a day dedicated to primary school children is planned. «The fourth and fifth graders will compete in speed, jumping and throwing tests. It will be a way to bring them closer to sport and to bring them to breathe the air of a major sporting event».
(Photo Nock-Olympics Kenya)
