Naples Marathon: African triumph in Piazza del Plebiscito – Sport

(ANSA) – NAPLES, NOV 14 – The athletes from Africa are the winners of the first edition of the Italian Insurance Neapolis Marathon. In the men’s field, in fact, Hosea Kimeli Kisorio, an athlete from Kenya – who raced with Atletica Virtus Lucca – who crossed the finish line with a time of 2.18.38 won. Behind him two other African runners, Jean Baptiste Simukeka (2.23.27, Rwanda) and Mohamed Hajjy (2.23.45, Morocco). Always in the lead right from the start, Kisorio does not hide his joy: ” I’m happy with this success. The race was demanding, even if the course had few roughnesses ”. The climate also gave the athletes a hand: cool temperatures, sometimes overcast skies for a large part of the day (it started raining only around 10.50 and for no more than twenty minutes) and not excessive humidity allowed the athletes to enjoy an almost ideal climate. To arrive in the rain was the winner of the women’s marathon, Clementines Mukandanga (Rwanda), also registered with Atletica Virtus Lucca, who dominated the test stopping the clock on 2.33.43. Completing the podium were Yulia Tarasova (2.50.14, Ukraine) and Simona Magrini (3.15.58, Italy). Also in the half marathon domination of the athletes of the African continent: among the men the first Panuel Mkungo (Kenya) in 1.03.07, among the women success of Cavaline Nahimana (Burundi) in 1.12.00. The president of the SSD Neapolis Marathon, the organizing company of the event, is satisfied: “ After two years of work – recalls Maurizio Marino – because it should not be forgotten that this race was initially supposed to be held in 2020 and then was postponed due to Covid, seeing the athletes cross the finish line in Piazza del Plebiscito was an immense emotion. We will treasure the ideas that have emerged in these days in view of the organization of the second edition, already scheduled for October 23, 2022 ”. The event was held taking into account the protocols related to Covid: there was no lack of inspections by the health authorities to verify compliance with current regulations. (HANDLE).