In Trieste, the 2nd International Road Race Running Match u.23 10k
is won by France and England, Italy takes silver
3,500 people for the #100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli, Trieste the Non Competitive Ten and Family Run 8km

TRIESTE – The Marseillaise plays in Piazza Unità D’Italia while the boys from Team France celebrate on the highest step of the podium the overall victory of the 2nd International Road Race Running Match u.23 10k that was run in Trieste in an absolute climate of celebration and high-level international sport. God Save The King echoes this to sanction the women’s success for the girls from Team England.

France and England are the two winning nations of this international event, the only one in Italy for the under 23 category, which is increasingly becoming a tradition in the field of road racing. Italy certainly did not sit back and watch and fought to the end to conquer the first place, but this was not the case and in both the men’s and women’s events the Italian colours took second place on the podium, a prestigious silver medal out of the 9 total participating nations.

Last year in the first edition the Italian boys had won gold, while the women had once again conquered silver behind the French. Not all years are the same and repeating yourself is never easy. Ultimately for this 2024 in the men’s event France 16 points, Italy just a hair’s breadth behind with 17 points and bronze for the English with 23 points, while among the women England is the best with 14 points, Italy with 15, another very small point, and finally the French third detached with 31 points.

On an individual level however it is the Danish Joel Lilleso, among the favorites announced on the eve, who makes his voice heard and conquers the victory in 31’30”. Behind him, up until the last hundred meters in the arduous climb ‘Il muro’ towards the Castello di San Giusto, the challenge between the French Baptiste Cartieaux and the Italian Konjoneh Maggi was played out. The promising Frenchman won, thus taking silver in 31’37” while Maggi took third but still a prestigious place in 31’41”. The other Italians were Nicolò Bedini in 5th, Nicolò Cornali in 8th and Thomas D’Este in 13th.

“I improved compared to last year’s sixth place – explains Maggi -, knowing the course was fundamental for this individual result of mine where I am very satisfied, I couldn’t have asked for better. I feel a bit sorry for the team, finishing behind by a point is a bit disappointing but that’s sport””.

Among the young girls under 23, in this case too, the individual victory was won by the favourite on the eve, the Polish Olimpia Breza who created a vacuum from the first stages of the race until winning in 35’02”. The Italian Isabella Caposieno held firm with a race full of grit and class, second in 35’11” and finally just behind in 35’14” the English Holly Weedal in third place.

“I had already done this race last year and I was screwed by the final wall where the French had overtaken me – the words of Caposieno after the finish -, this year I changed tactics, staying covered by the wind and just behind to save energy until the ninth kilometer. On the wall I gave it my all and I was rewarded with my overtaking right on the climb. It is always an honor and a thrill to wear the blue jersey and even more so in an important and fantastic city like Trieste. Truly a great experience”.

CORSA DEI CASTELLI – After the international event, the #100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli was also run on the same route, which between the competitive race, the Ten Non-Competitive and the Family Run 8 km had over 3500 people running or walking from Miramare Castle to San Giusto Castle and Piazza Unità d’Italia.

Numbers practically doubled compared to last year, also thanks to the partnership with the University of Trieste, which this year is celebrating 100 years of prestigious history and which involved over 800 students as participants, also allowing the average age of the general participants to be lowered.

The winner of the #100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli was Ugandan Martin Kiprotich in 29’13”, his triumph is a repeat after the success already recorded in May at the Corri Trieste where he had set the course record. It is always Uganda also for the second place, in this case with Diasmas Yeko in 30’21”, while Simon Ekidor, Kenya in this case, is the third classified in 30’32”. The first Italian to cross the finish line at the Castello di San Giusto was Massimo Guerra (Atl. Vicentina) fifth, behind the other Kenyan Simba Diskcson Nyakundi (31’27”), in 32’03”.

100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli women’s race that saw the success of Astrid Faganel (Jalmicco Corse) in 42’53” ahead of Letizia Pugnetti (Carniatletica) in 43’08” and Lucrezia Cesca (Polisportiva Triveneto Trieste) with 43’16”.

This is the comment of the Rector Roberto Di Lenarda: “The Corsa dei Castelli is an extraordinary event that mobilizes the entire city and involves, in the typical joyful and challenging way of sporting activity, different generations. Sport goes beyond barriers and unites people from all over the world. In the celebrations of the Centenary of the University of Trieste we shared the same spirit of this event, with a partnership that allowed us to name this edition as #100UniTS Corsa dei Castelli. Once again, UniTS has decided to be in synergy with the city of Trieste, aiming to be increasingly international and combining culture with the fundamental values ​​of sporting activity”.

Summing up this now historic Trieste event that is always growing is Silvia Gianardi, President of Promorun Asd, the organizing company: “We are extremely satisfied with how this edition went, it is now an event that involves both the strongest international youth athletes and the European under-23 national teams. We had more than double the number of nations participating in the international race, we involve prestigious multi-medal-winning athletes in the Corsa dei Castelli together with thousands of amateurs from all over the world as well as families and children for the Family Run. A true social event that speaks of high-level technical sport, well-being, sporting culture, tourism and sustainability. We will continue to work tirelessly so that the event can be ever more beautiful and large. Thanks to all the institutions, the University, the Burlo Garofolo Hospital, all the sponsors and volunteers who made sure everything was truly perfect”.

On the podium to award the various winners were the institutions and sponsors, in particular Pierpaolo Roberti Regional Councilor for local authorities, public function, security and immigration, the Honorable Walter Rizzetto President of the XI Commission for Public and Private Employment of the Chamber of Deputies, the Rector of the University of Trieste Roberto Di Lenarda, Luciana De Mori Head of Communication and Relations with Stakeholders (Acegas), Ernesto Mari Provincial President of Coni, Matteo Redolfi National Councilor of Fidal.

The Burlo Garofolo Hospital, UniTs and the schools were awarded as the most participatory companies. The first place went to the International School of Trieste Institute, followed by the Sandrinelli Da Vinci Institute, the United World College and finally the Nazario Sauro Institute.