Vigevano celebrates the restart of street athletics after the various lockdowns. 644 athletes at the start following strict security checks
VIGEVANO. The sun is shining on Vigevano Sunday morning. The quiet after the storm on Saturday. “A sign of destiny” wink the organizers of Scarpadoro. A half marathon and a 10 km in the city center, with the inevitable passages in Piazza Ducale and in the castle, which are worth more than the cups and medals awarded to the victors. “They are the signal for the restart of grassroots sport,” say athletes and organizers.
In short, the quiet after the Covid storm that changed everything, even the world of sport. In fact, there have been no more competitive races of this level since February 2020. A geological era for the army of 644 runners from half north of Italy who arrived yesterday at the “Dante Merlo” stadium in Vigevano. The vast majority are people who are divided between offices and factories, but spend their free time and Sunday mornings training and competing.
«You are the soul of athletics and sport: Scarpadoro is one of the first races to resume. The whole movement must restart after the pandemic, we bring children and young people back to the athletics fields, ”said the regional president of FIDAL, Giovanni Mauri, before the start. The 644 athletes competing (of which over 400 in the half marathon, the others in the 10 kilometers) reciprocate their wishes and encouragement “with two races with terrific times” as explained by the speaker and well-known face of the Vigevano athletics Luca Della Porta. Races held in a different world compared to the last edition of 2019: mask worn for the first 500 meters, quick awards after the finish and no public in the stands.
A Sunday in which there is immediate glory for the standard bearers of the house. The first to return to the track of the glorious Dante Merlo (arrival and departure of the race) is the winner of the 10 kilometers race, the first edition race and renamed StraVigevano. To win it is the 22 year old Ademe Cuneo from Vigevano, bearer of the 100 Torri Pavia who after 33 minutes and 8 seconds completes the shortest race. It takes four more (37 minutes and 6 seconds) Elena Romagnolo, 38 years old from Borgosesia and Italian record holder on the 3 thousand hedges.
Then the stage is all for the athletes of the half marathon, the race that since 2006 has taken the place of the first Scarpadoro that had world significance and was won by athletic greats such as Sebastian Coe, Alberto Cova and Paul Tergat. The top step of the podium is taken by Giovanni Vanini, a 36-year-old from Varese who in his life works in a pharmaceutical company and runs every day. «I knew I could win, but I didn’t expect such a time – explains Vanini at the end of the race -. Great wonderful, with the passage in the historic center of Vigevano ».
Among the women, after three victories in the last four editions, Karin Angotti (Podistica Garlaschese) from Vigevano (Podistica Garlaschese) must give way to the Italian junior half marathon champion: Iris Baretto, 23 year old from Ovada and standard bearer of the Genoese club “Trionfo Ligure”. The young Piedmontese closes in an hour and 21, leaving the 38-year-old Angotti behind by over four minutes.
“The unity of intent of Atletica Vigevano with local authorities and sponsors has made it possible to carry out this race, despite all the difficulties of the case due to the pandemic situation still in progress – explained Gianni Merlo, president of the organizing company Atletica Vigevano -. Resuming immediately after a year off with Scarpadoro was an important signal ». «The Vigevano competition was among the first in Lombardy and in Italy to take place after the bans were lifted – adds Oscar Campari, from Vigevano and delegate in the national council of FIDAL for the province of Pavia -. The sunny day certainly contributed to facilitate the unfolding of the event, the rest was done by the athletes ». –
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