Rome, 18 October 2024 – A high-profile parterre and a big party in the Village: the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, organised by RomaOstia and RCS Sports & Events, gets into full swing.
Tomorrow will be the second opening day of the Village hosted at Eataly Roma Ostiense in Piazzale XII Ottobre 1492, the headquarters of the half marathon with the most participants in Italy. It is here that the 17,000 registered runners can collect their bib number and, like the public, ask the experts for advice and find out about the novelties presented by the official sponsors of the 2024 edition. And it is also at the Village that tomorrow there will be the parade of elite athletes who will compete for victory on Sunday.
THE ELITE RUNNERS OF THE WIZZ AIR ROME HALF MARATHON
The Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon also begins its adventure under the best auspices with regard to the elite athletes in the race. The technical level is decidedly high and bodes well for a significant chronometric result.
In the men’s field, fresh from his success at RomaOstia last spring, Emmanuel Wafula (Ken) returns to Rome with the intention of confirming and improving his personal best of 1h01.10. Training partner Gideon Rop (Ken) seems to be his main antagonist, with a credited time of 1h00.28 and announced to be in excellent condition after the probing 25 km pacemaking test at the recent BerlinMarathon.
Compatriot Anthony Kimtai will have the task of launching the race by keeping the pace high from the early stages.
Among the luxury outsiders is the always fearsome Evans Kipkorir (Ken), credited with 1h00.00. The Italian colours will be represented in the men’s race by Daniele D’Onofrio (FFOO), who will have to contend with the many athletes from Lazio in the race, including Freedom Amaniel and Luca Parisi.
There is great interest and expectation for the women’s race, where the Italian Sofiia Yaremchuk (Esercito), Italian marathon record holder with 2h23.16 and also Italian co-record holder on the half marathon with 1h08.27, brings absolute prestige to the starting field.
Fantu Worku (Eth), who after a brilliant career on the track, chose Rome and the WizzAir Rome Halfmarathon to compete over longer distances on the road, will be making her debut over the 21.097 km; her personal bests of 8:30.76 on the 3000 m and 14:26.80 on the 5000 m attest to the indisputable talent of this athlete from the highlands.
In the kermesse there are many other highly-rated names, starting with Evaline Chirchir (Ken) with a PB of 1h06.01, 19-year-old Debash Desta (Eth), who could give us big surprises at junior level, the emerging Nancy Sang and Salome Otiso, both Kenyan, and the returning Brillian Kipkoech (Ken), who, with a PB of 1h06.56 before her pregnancy, wants to resume her path of successes in Rome.
A truly interesting and high-level cast for the first edition of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon that promises to be very fast.
21.097 km; her personal bests of 8:30.76 on the 3000 m and 14:26.80 on the 5000 m attest to the indisputable talent of this athlete from the highlands.
In the kermesse there are many other highly-rated names, starting with Evaline Chirchir (Ken) with a PB of 1h06.01, 19-year-old Debash Desta (Eth), who could give us big surprises at junior level, the emerging Nancy Sang and Salome Otiso, both Kenyan, and the returning Brillian Kipkoech (Ken), who, with a PB of 1h06.56 before her pregnancy, wants to resume her path of successes in Rome.
A truly interesting and high-level cast for a first edition of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon that promises to be very fast.
MANY ACTIVITIES AT THE VILLAGE
At Eataly Roma Ostiense where the Village of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon is located, closing tomorrow at 8 pm, many initiatives are scheduled.
It starts at 9 a.m. with two training sessions in preparation for the race: the first with adidas runners in partnership with Outpump and Mental Athletic; the second, entitled Garmin, organised with the official pacers.
At 10.30 a.m., meet at Giardino Malaspina for the Dog Run Arcaplanet: a walk-run for pets and pet parents, a fun way to spend time in the company of your pet while exercising.
The elite runners will parade and the Pacers will be presented in the second part of the day.
Policlinico Gemelli will be present with its Longevity Run Team, a staff of experts offering free check-ups and screenings to runners registered for the 5 km (and 21 km). An initiative that, for some years now, has made participation in the event also an opportunity for prevention.
The event’s technical partner adidas will be present in the Village with its own format The Running Lab, an experience designed to test all the technologies applied to the best running footwear. Specifically, the new SUPERNOVA will be present, designed to guarantee maximum comfort and a running experience that supports the goals of all runners. In addition to Supernova it will also be possible to test the entire Adizero family.
The Running Lab’s many services include: foot scans dedicated to plantar morphology and measurement of the instep, a personalised study of plantar support aimed at preventing injuries, advice on the best adidas footwear and targeted training sessions with leading runner coaches. A unique and successful format, dedicated to all runners to deepen their running experience, personalised and supported by a team of professionals. Inside the village it will also be possible to purchase the best adidas products at the store in partnership with Cisalfa
More information and details on the event website (https://www.romehalfmarathon.it/) and social channels.
ROUTE AND CHANGING POINTS FOR SUNDAY’S RELAY RACE
An open-air museum. The route is a journey through the wonders of the Eternal City: start from Via del Circo Massimo at 8.30 am and finish in Via degli Annibaldi in front of the Colosseum. As already anticipated, there will also be the Relay Rome Half Marathon, the relay race open to teams of three runners, whose registration is exclusively through the official ONP represented by Sport Senza Frontiere. An initiative that allows the less trained to participate in the event and at the same time be in solidarity.
Below are the points relating to the relay race:
- Fraction: from Circus Maximus to Viale Terme di Caracalla
- Fraction: from Viale Terme di Caracalla to Piazza del Popolo. The change will take place at the end of the avenue, beginning of Piazza di Porta Capena.
- Fraction: from Piazza del Popolo to Via degli Annibali (same finish line as the 21 km).
Also enriching the format of this event is Runderwear by Intimissimi Uomo, which will see a ‘wave’ of runners in underwear at the start of the half and 5 km.
TRAFFIC
From midnight on Sunday 20 October, Via del Circo Massimo, Via dei Cerchi, Via Cavour, Via degli Annibaldi will be closed. From 5 a.m. the closure of Via di San Gregorio, Piazza Porta Capena, Viale Aventino. From 7.30 am the closure to traffic of the entire route.
EATALY
Eataly is a sponsor of the Rome Half Marathon. A long-standing supporter of our peninsula’s food and wine culture and high quality, it has values shared not only by runners, but by all sportsmen and women, and for this reason it is one of the partners of the first edition of the 21 km race in the capital.
In the days leading up to the race, Eataly Roma Ostiense will host the Half Marathon Village: in the square in front of the store, a large area will be set up where participants can collect their bib number, complete their registration and visit the numerous stands.
But that’s not all, Eataly Roma Ostiense wants to celebrate the arrival of this great sporting event in the city with a special event open to all, the Pasta Party: two unique days, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October, during which the best realities of the Capitoline catering industry will prepare their pasta-based recipes. There will also be music and drinks, for a true celebration of sport and good food. Those registered for the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon will receive two free tokens in the kit they will collect at the Village. The complete program is on www.eataly.it/roma
