Rome, October 20, 2024 – Run, run, Rome! What a celebration at the first Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon. A typical, splendid Roman “Ottobrata” welcomed the 17,345 runners from across the globe. Starting from 8:30, the many waves of runners set off from the picturesque Via del Circo Massimo. Then, a colorful stream of runners painted a swirl through the heart of the capital, blending history, architecture, and sport, all leading to the sunny finish at the Colosseum—a moment worth the experience alone.
There was also great success for the 5 km non-competitive Longevity Run, the Relay Rome Half Marathon team race, and the Runderwear Intimissimi Uomo.
Emmanuel Wafula (Kenya) won the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon 2024 by a wide margin, becoming the first king of Rome’s half marathon with a time of 59:58, in the most attended half marathon in Italy. It was an all-Kenyan podium, with Gideon Kiprotich Rop finishing second and Antony Kimtai third.
Among women, Nancy Sang (Kenya) took the win ahead of Ethiopian Taye and fellow Kenyan Chirchir, with a time of 1h06:52, marking the best female performance on Italian soil in 2024.
The top Italians were Daniele D’Onofrio, finishing sixth overall with a time of 1h05:34, and Sofiia Yaremchuck, placing seventh among women in 1h13:28.
MEN’S RESULTS
- EMMANUEL WAFULA, Kenya, 59:58
- GIDEON KIPROTICH ROP, Kenya, 1h00:57
- ANTONY KIMTAI, Kenya, 1h02:23
WOMEN’S RESULTS
- NANCY SANG, Kenya, 1h06:52
- FANTU WORKU TAYE, Ethiopia, 1h07:30
- EVALINE CHIRCHIR, Kenya, 1h07:47
THE RACE
As predicted, the top contenders broke away just a few kilometers into the race, both in the men’s and women’s categories. After 20 minutes, with the long stream of runners still starting, the three Kenyans—Antony Kimtai, Gideon Kiprotich Rop, and Emmanuel Wafula—were already running solo towards the finish, knowing they were competing for the win amongst themselves. A few kilometers later, Kimtai dropped back, leaving Rop and Wafula to pass the 10 km mark alone, vying for the honor of being the first to etch their name in the history of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon. Meanwhile, four women remained in the lead pack at mid-race: Evaline Chirchir, Nancy Sang, Debash Desta, and Fantu Worku Taye, maintaining a strong pace thanks to their pacer.
At the 16th kilometer, Wafula made his decisive move, surging ahead of training partner Rop with a commanding action. Among the women, three were still in contention: Chirchir, Taye, and Sang. Piazza del Popolo, Via del Babuino, Piazza di Spagna with Trinità dei Monti, Via del Tritone, Piazza Navona, Via del Plebiscito, Piazza Venezia… the Kenyan runner’s imperial charge through these landmarks, captured live by Sky Sport, culminated with Wafula crossing the finish line alone at the Colosseum, winning by a wide margin and finishing under the hour mark. Similarly, in the women’s race, Nancy Sang pulled ahead with 4 kilometers to go, confidently leaving behind Taye and Chirchir to stride towards the finish line amidst cheering crowds.
STATEMENTS
Emmanuel Wafula, winner of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon 2024: “I’m overjoyed to have achieved my personal best right here in Rome, in this race. I had run the RomaOstia before, but today I ran much faster. I made the decisive move in the last five kilometers and pushed for time at the end. Rome is such a beautiful city, what a course!”
Nancy Sang, winner of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon 2024: “I came to Rome to run fast, and that’s exactly what I did. I ran really strong, and I’m truly satisfied with my performance. It was my debut at this distance, and I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome: “We’re truly delighted by this extraordinary turnout along the streets of the capital. So many people came to Italy and Rome specifically for this wonderful event. Over 17,000 participants, 42 percent of whom were women—truly impressive numbers. The streets of the capital offer a unique backdrop; I believe nowhere else in the world can you run surrounded by the history and architectural wonders that only Rome can offer. This city loves sports, and the growing bond between Rome and sports is fantastic.”
Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s Councillor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion: “With the first half marathon in Rome, we’ve won the bet. It was a major event with huge economic impact, with over 17,000 participants, 11,000 of them from abroad, and social impact through various charitable initiatives and free health screenings. It was a celebration of sports, an opportunity to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and a great promotional showcase for the city, with images that will be shared worldwide on social media. Many people from abroad will want to come here next year to run this race in an open-air museum. The numbers from the first edition have exceeded even our most optimistic expectations. Now we will continue working to make Rome’s half marathon the most important and attended in the world.”
Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events: “A major sporting event, a wonderful sports festival for Rome, with a high percentage of female participation, which is uncommon in Italy. It was a beautiful course that proved to be fast, with some really impressive times. This is just the first edition; there is still much to do and great potential for improvement. Rome and this race deserve to have at least 25,000-30,000 participants: that’s our goal, and with next year’s Jubilee, it could be the perfect occasion.”
Laura Duchi, Race Director of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon: “It was an incredible feeling to bring the half marathon to the center of Rome. The RomaOstia is a race with a long tradition, celebrating 50 years this year, but running through the heart of our capital has a unique charm. We saw a very different spirit than we’re used to: international runners combine the athletic side with tourism; they want to explore the city, and are not solely focused on the competition. Having over 11,000 foreign participants is a very interesting figure, as is the female participation rate: surpassing 40 percent women in a road race is rare and something I’m very proud of.”
Fruzsina Polácska, Marketing Manager of Wizz Air: “We are proud to have been the main sponsor of the first edition of the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon. This day was a fantastic opportunity to bring together sport, culture, and sustainability in a historic city like Rome. With over 17,000 participants running through the iconic streets of the capital, it was an unforgettable experience that highlighted our ongoing commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Beyond Rome, Wizz Air has supported similar events in cities like Milan, Budapest, and Venice, engaging over 130,000 runners across Europe, but this one was among the most captivating, given the extraordinary backdrop of UNESCO World Heritage sites. This reflects not only our dedication to making travel and fitness accessible but also our strong ties to the communities we serve. We hope this marathon will continue to inspire runners from Italy and beyond to embark on new adventures.”
