TRIESTE – Rather than running between Miramare Castle and San Giusto Castle today in Trieste it was all about flying. For this was the action of the winners of the 6th Castles Run, a record-breaking race in every sense of the word.
First and foremost in the number of total participants, more than 2,000 with as many as 25 nations represented, athletes coming not only from all over Europe but also from Brazil, Canada and the USA. Sold-out touched off on Saturday evening eve with final registrations made in person at the desk in St. Anthony Square. 10k competitive, Ten non-competitive and 8km Family Run that have now become a great classic in the international running scene and for the citizens of Trieste.
Superlative the course record marked by the winner of this 6th Castles Race, the highly anticipated and eve’s favorite Birhanu Balew (Bahrain) started with bib number 1, crossed the finish line at San Giusto Castle in 28’57”, pulverizing the previous record of 29’49” that belonged to Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet, an athlete who wrote pages of 5000m history at the World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Balew is not to be outdone with two Olympic finals, prestigious 6th place in the 5000m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, two finals at world championships and several successes in the emblazoned Diamond League, and today he showed the people of Trieste his immense class. A furious pace right from the start his along with the patrol of Africans and from Italy’s Marouan Razine (Army) by 2’50” from the first kilometer, a Mid-race passage at 5km in 14’11”, 22’40” at the 8km and finally ‘the wall’ that saw him take off on his opponents to with finish as a winner and write a stupendous page in the history of the Castles Race.
A total of four athletes broke the previous record of 29’49“, confirming the very high technical quality fielded by Promorun Asd. Second across the line was Kenyan Bernard Musau Wambua in 29’24” and third was compatriot Peter Mwainiki Njeru in 29’27”. Fourth place for Panuel Mkungo (Atl. Castello) with 29’31”, also in the past race record. It should be noted that Njeru was last year’s winner and Mkungo was the 2nd place finisher, while today the top European is Italian Marouan Razine (Army), 7th in 31’42”.
The women’s race was also record-breaking, with Kenyan Nancy Kerubo Kerage signing the new record in 37’34”. For her it is only 2 seconds ahead of the previous record of 37’36” that belonged to Joyce Mattagliano from 2019. In second place in 41’24” is Asd Team Km Sport athlete Chiara Pianeta, who improves on the third position obtained in 2021. Female podium completed by Chiara Fantini (Maratonina Udinese) in 42:25″.
Lots of competitiveness and world-class champions who were joined and ideally propelled by hundreds of participants of the ‘Non Competitive Ten’ and the many families and the many children and young people of the Family Run 8k that saw the finish line in Piazza Unità, also the venue for the final awards ceremony. On the stage, at the start and finish was in addition to Silvia Gianardi President of Promorun Asd, Giorgio Rossi, Councillor for Culture and Tourism Policies, passionate and creator together with the blue champion Michele Gamba of this race. Also present were Fabio Scoccimarro, FVG Regional Councillor for Environmental Defense, Energy and Sustainable Development, Ernesto Mari delegate for Trieste of CONI, Fabio Biviano President of Fidal Trieste Provincial Committee and two great champions. The event’s testimonial Andrew Howe, world silver and European gold medalist in long jump and still after 15 years the Italian record holder with 8.47m long jump, and Giacomo Leone, president of Fidal Puglia and winner of the 1996 New York City Marathon.
Family Run 8 km that has always aimed to spread the culture of sports as a fundamental habit for mental and physical well-being. An opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the city and at the same time renew the goal of solidarity towards theBurlo Garofolo Hospital , which saw among its employees and their family members about 150 in attendance. This year, funds raised through donations will be donated to the Pediatric Emergency Room with the goal of making the journey of young patients less traumatic through painful therapeutic maneuvers.
THE SCHOOLS – Smiling, happy, full of energy. Hundreds of boys and girls attended the Family Run 8k. Incentivizing the participation of schools is the contribution of Fondazione CRTrieste, which has been close to the Family Run for several years through the disbursement of a contribution thanks to which the participation of all schoolchildren is made possible. Prizes were awarded to the top five schools with a voucher to hold a free educational workshop inside Miramare Castle Park, a testament to the importance of the combination of sports and culture.
ENVIRONMENTAL – ASD Promorun works to reduce the environmental impact of the event through various strategies: event promotional materials, TNT banners, gadget sails almost entirely made of eco-sustainable material, for mobility organizes the free transportation of athletes at the start by shuttle bus, reducing emissions from a substantial number of cars; the disposal of the waste is operated in a differentiated manner; priority is given to suppliers of goods and services local and sustainable products, made from recycled materials or certified green products as well as the race pack Is managed with recyclable packaging. Event partners were also selected taking into account their environmental and ethical/social commitment.
TOURISM – Trieste, a border city, a balcony overlooking the blue Adriatic from the mountainous promontories of the Karst, the only city in the middle of the Mediterranean with a strong Central European character that has earned it the nickname “Little Vienna.” The scene of bloody battles and mercantile exchanges, Trieste is the result of cultural fusions evident in the buildings of historical interest and which transformed it into a border town with a strong independence temperament. Promorun cherishes the combination of sports and tourism, so the Castles Race is a tool to bring prestige to the Julian capital and the entire region rich in beauty, history, monuments and museums and products of the regional wine and food tradition.
