ROME. Yeman Crippa, European gold. Again. This time in one half marathon to Rome dominated by a great, great athlete. European championship records (1h01’03”) and message to all opponents in view of Paris, where Yeman will race Olympic marathon. Race in control e final on the wings of enthusiasmwith lots of smile of joy in the final straight.
Spectacular race also for the context, with the athletes running in the streets of a Rome without sun but still of one glittering beautyuntil arriving in Olympic stadium: Italian celebration completed by Pietro Riva’s silver, with the German Petros in third place.
Around the 15 kilometer mark, after two thirds of the race spent in substantial waiting with a leading group of twenty units, comes the decisive attack triggered by the Israeli Teferi: three Italians remain in the lead, but the pace increases and the group of the best tapers to a dozen athletes. It’s time for Yeman’s jab: the class of ’96 puts the arrow and “tears”, and only the 2 Germans remain with him. But failing to detach them, Crippa lowers the engine speed and wait for the final sprint. And I’m at the finish line shivers of joy with a phenomenal sprint.
Also thanks to this Sunday morning of joys and successes, Italy currently confirms itself in first place in the European Championship medal table: second “Trentino” gold after Nadia Battocletti’s success in the 5,000 meters on Friday evening.
Between Monday and Tuesday it will be the third Trentino’s turn in action, that one Lorenzo Naidon (Yellow Flames) engaged in the various challenges of the decathlon and returning after the injury that forced him to stop in the winter: good signs arrived in the recent races in Bolzano, but his participation in Rome was far from a given.
Battocletti will also return to the track on Tuesday 11th June, at the start of the 10,000 metres, the same distance that Yeman Crippa should also face on Sunday 12th unless the program changes.
