Cripps clocks 59:01 at the Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon as Lucy Ntenya Ndambuki wins the women’s race.
There was an Italian record for Yeman Crippa when he clocked 59:01 in the Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon on Sunday (February 22). The reigning European half-marathon champion once again made history in the Italian city, breaking his own national half-marathon record and the record he set in 2022.
The result makes him the second fastest European after Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, who ran 58:41 in Valencia last October.
“I achieved one of my dreams, taking my own Italian record and lowering it by 25 seconds,” he said. “I’m extremely happy and very satisfied with my time, it’s a wonderful day.
“This result is the result of a lot of training, the perfect weather, but also the special magic that exists only here in Naples and the support of the crowd, which gave me incredible energy. The Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon is definitely very fast.
“In the first part, I followed the pacemaker, Kenyan Gedeon Kiprotich, who did a great job. I stayed right behind him and felt pretty relaxed until 10km, then started doing some calculations in my head. I controlled the race and continued to push along with Andrea Kipto. Coming out around the tunnel, I got to 9 minutes.
“I was hoping for 58:59 and missed it by a second. I am happy for myself, for the city of Naples and for all the staff. I feel like part of a big family.”
Andrea Kipto was runner-up in 59:27 and third to Owen Korir Kapkama in 59:42.
Kenyan Lucy Ntenya Ndambuki won the women’s fight with a score of 68:48.
He said: “I took the lead from the start, but it wasn’t until the 15th kilometer that I realized I was going to win and pushed as hard as I could. It’s my first time here in Naples, a very beautiful city and a perfectly organized race.”
Kenyan Nellie Jepthu is in second place with 69:26, followed by Finland’s Susanna Saapunki with 70:35.
6th overall and first Italian was Sara Bottarelli with 74:11.
“The emotions are overwhelming and incredibly intense,” says Carlo Capalbo, president of Napoli Running. “Today marks the end of a project that started 10 years ago with very clear goals. some achievements such as setting Italian marathon and half marathon records and bringing more than 10,000 runners to the streets of Naples. Other goals are close.
“We at Napoli Running are ready to roll up our sleeves to target the European record. The excitement of making history will be our energy to do more and do better, as this event projects Naples among the European running capitals.”
