International athletics arrives in Asti on Thursday 23 May with the Grifone Meeting which was presented this morning, Wednesday 24 April at the headquarters of the Bank of Asti. The event, organized by Durbano Gas Energy of Rivarolo, directed by the meeting director Elisabetta Artuso, with the collaboration of the Asti companies Vittorio Alfieri Asti, Brancaleone and Atletica Asti 2.2, takes place for the first time in Asti after the debut in Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto. The date of May 23rd falls two weeks from the European Championships in Rome (7-12 June) and just three days from the deadline for achieving the participation standards.
On Wednesday 22 May, the eve of the Meeting, a day dedicated to primary school children is planned. The fourth and fifth graders will compete in speed tests (60 meters), standing long jump and vortex throw. It will be a way to bring them closer to sport and to bring them to breathe the air of a major sporting event, combined with the return of the Youth Games and organized with the collaboration of the superintendent.
Present were the vice-president of the Piedmont Region Fabio Carosso, the vice-president of the Province of Asti Simone Nosenzo, the deputy mayor of Asti Stefania Morra, the CONI Asti Delegate Lavinia Saracco and the representative for physical activity of the provincial school office Paola Prunotto. Representing Fidal Piemonte, the Councilor Fabio Amandola, for the Asti companies that collaborate with the organization, Claudia Solaro, councilor of Vittorio Alfieri Asti. Through Artuso, a Tuscan recently transplanted to Piedmont, national FIDAL councilor, greetings also came live from FIDAL president Stefano Mei.
During the interventions it emerged that this is an event that initially caused some concern, due to its size to which Asti is certainly not used, but then everyone understood that it will be a great opportunity, both for the city both for the young athletes who step on the track in via Gerbi every day, full of dreams and ambitions. They will be able to see great champions who they will then see again on TV in the most important international events. In addition to the Asti clubs mentioned, students from the Vercelli Liceo Sportivo and the SUISM of Asti responded to the call as volunteers.
Entrance to the public will be free, subject to availability. The meeting will start at 3.30pm with regional side races and international competitions from 4pm.
For the moment the cast is not yet definitive but great challenges are already anticipated.
In addition to the already announced challenge on the weight platform between the Italians Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weir, Olympic silver medalist Ferguson Rotich will be competing in the 800 meters. The Kenyan, sixteenth on the all-time world list with a time of 1’42”54, was only beaten by his compatriot Emmanuel Korir in Tokyo 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 Cheminingwa, 26 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. Also competing is the 21-year-old Italian Francesco Pernici (1’45″23 last year), who on the Asti track also the Bosnian expert Amel Tuka, thirteenth in the world all time ranking with a time of 1’42”51 which dates back to 2’15.
The women’s 800m and men’s 1500m events were also of excellent quality and, awaiting confirmation from the Italians, promise a great day of middle distance running in Asti. Among the women, Vivien Chebet Kiprotich (Kenya) will be on the track, with a personal best of 1’58”26, fourth at the recent World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and bronze medal at the African Games in Accra. With her there will be the Kenyan naturalized for Bahrain Nelly Jepkosgei, 1’58”93 personal best. In the men’s 1500m, the Luxembourger Charles Grethen (3’32″86 personal best) and the South African Tshepo Tshite (3’32″68), both semi-finalists at the Budapest 2023 World Championships, are confirmed. With them a group of athletes capable of go under 3’35”, led by the Ethiopians Ashenafi and Gudisa.
On the platforms next to the aforementioned 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 pole vault competitions should be noted. Among the men, the Italians Simone Bertelli (5.5 5 personal) and Matteo Olivieri (5.52) will face the Portuguese Pedro Buaró, who 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 Turin talent Great Nnachi, silver medalist at the under 20 European Championships in 2023 and who improved to 4.45 during the indoor season, will face the other Italians Sonia Malavisi (4.51) and Maria Roberta Gherca (4 ,40).
