After the double in the 100 meters Jacobs-Alithe third day of the European Championships opens with another blue one-two: Yeman Crippa wins the half marathon through the historic center of Rome in 1h01”03, beating another Italian, Pietro Riva (1h01”04), who overtook the German in the final straight at the Olimpico Amanal Petros. Greeting him with a dramatic gesture, then apologizing for the gesture: “It wasn’t aimed at him, I admire him very much. I’ll offer him a pizza, or five kilos of Nutella.”
Sixth Pasquale Selvaroloeighth Eyob Fanieltenth Yohanes Chiappinelli. Along with the gold and silver in the specialty which replaces the marathon at the European Championships comes the victory in the team event. It is the seventh gold and is already a historical record of victories and medals (13): surpassing the 1990 edition of Split, which reached 12 podiums, 5 golds, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes.
Crippa remained in the leading group led by Chiappinelli at the tenth kilometer, escorted by Riva, Faniel and Selvarolo, while Meucci immediately broke away at 28 seconds. Around the 14th kilometer the Israeli’s action held up Maru Teferi which caused the selection, remaining attached to Petros. After 15 km the Italian pack continued compactly with Riva, Selvarolo, Chiappinelli and Faniel, then after two kilometers Yeman Crippa attacked, putting the two Germans Petros and Samuel Fitwi to the test. Riva fell behind with Teferi, forming a group of five in the lead which was soon reduced to a head-to-head Crippa-Petros at the entrance to the Olimpico which the German paid for by also losing the silver. Second continental title for Crippa after the one two years ago in the 10,000 meters on the track.
