Yeman Crippa destroys two records at Napoli City Half Marathon

Yeman Crippa became the first Italian to run under the one hour mark as he destroyed the course record of the Napoli City Half Marathon which is in its 26th edition that was held on Sunday (27) in Napoli, Italy.

The 25-year-old wrote his name in Italian History books as no Italian athlete before him, had managed to cover the distance in less than an hour. He also became the second fastest European of all time, 13 seconds behind the Swiss Julien Wanders who retains the absolute primacy with a time of 59:13.

Crippa who has had numerous injuries which forced him to drop like in Siena in my debut last season, the Tokyo Olympics, the Euro Cross in Dublin, came back with a bang to this race as he passed through 14:02 at 5km, 28:12 at 10 km, 42:25 at 15km, with a very regular rate of 2:49 per km.

Crippa joined the leading group at around the 18k then he increased his pace then at the last 2km launched the sprint, as he battled two stubborn Kenyans Joshua Kiplangat Belet and Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei who gave him a hard time in the last kilometer.

Crippa managed to hold them off and went on to erase the previous six years course record of 1:02.41 that had been set by Cleophas Ngetich from Kenya with a new course record 59:26.

“It’s our time; it’s the moment of Italian athletics. And it is right that we enjoy it and redeems the disappointment of Tokyo” said Crippa.

This time also erased the previous Italian record that was held by Eyob Faniel of 1:00.07 that he set in Siena last year.

Belet was forced to settle in second in a time of 59:28 with another Kenyan Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei closing the podium finishes in 59:32.

Kenya’s Josphat Kiprotich and Mogos Tuemay Abrha from Ethiopia finished in fourth and fifth place in a time of 59:33 and 59:35 respectively.

European distance record holder over the distance Wanders finished a distant sixth in a time of 1:00.28

LEADING RESULTS

21KM MEN

1. Crippa Yemaneberhan         (ITA)  59:26
2. Joshua Kiplangat Belet         (KEN) 59:28
3. Josphat Kipkemboi Kemei    (KEN) 59:33
4. Josphat Kiprotich                   (KEN) 59:35
5. Mogos Tuemay Abrha           (ETH) 1:00.11
6. Julien Wanders                       (SUI) 1:00.28
7. Wisley Kibichii                       (KEN) 1:00.28
8. Stanley Kurgat Rono              (KEN) 1:00.44
9. Dennis Kibet Kitiyo                (KEN) 1:01.06
10. Afewerki Berhane Hidru        (ERI) 1:01.47