ITALIAN ABSOLUTE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Italian Open Water Swimming Championships conclude today in Piombino with the last and longest race of the program: the 16km.
Other events took place over the weekend, including the 10km distance, which saw Giulia Gabrielleschi prevail over Barbara Pozzobon, in view of a probable call to the Olympics.
On the second day, the men’s and women’s 5km distance saw the triumph of the two out of classification (and champions) Ana Cunha and Marc Antoine Olivier, while the 2.5km, on the third day, was won in the women’s field by Iris Menchini, born in 2003, and in the men’s field by Ivan Giovannoni. The mixed relay title went to the athletes of the Navy.
On this last day, Andrea Filadelli, second after the 10km, and Giulia Berton, who puts her third gold around her neck, after the 10km and the 5km, win the gold and the Italian title.
Even though there were only seven female athletes competing in the 16km, the top four kept the pack together for the entire three-hour race, finishing with a margin of just 9 seconds between Berton in the lead, and Sofie Callo in fourth.
The youngest athletes in the race were Davide Macari, born in 2007, who finished in 3:21’21.3, in twelfth place, and Silvia Marcon, born in 2006, in 3:35’58.3, in seventh place among the women.
Also competing was former world champion in the 25km in Kazan 2015 Simone Ruffini, who finished the race in seventh position, 27.9 seconds behind the first.
16 KM
MEN – Top 5 Overall
- Andrea Filadelli (2001) 3:04’35.2
- Joseph Hilary (2003) 3:04’49.8
- Alessio Occhipinti (1996) 3:04’50.0
- Niccolo’ Ricciardi (2003) 3:04’59.7
- Andrea Salsano (2001) 3:05’01.7
WOMEN – Top 5 Overall
- Giulia Berton (2001) 3:18’08.5
- Veronica Santoni (1998) 3:18’10.3
- Alessia Ossoli (2004) 3:18’13.7
- Sofie Callo (2001) 3:18’17.8
- Elena Tortora (2004) 3:20’20.3
