DANIELE MEUCCI AT THE 58th CAMPACCIO

The big challenge with Andrea Lalli. In the women’s race, Federica Del Buono.

At the start line also two golden medalists in the Junior World Championship: “we believe in the young champions”.

This morning at the Regione Lombardia Building in Milan, was held the press conference for the 58^th Campaccio Cross County, taking place the next 6th January 2015, organized by Us Sangiorgese.

The Assessore allo Sport from Regione Lombardia Antonio Rossi took the chance of speaking about the latest news about a very important issue: “I competed in the Olympics but I don’t agree completely with Rome’s candidacy to host the Olympic Games, I’m worried about the costs. Maybe the priority is grassroots sport, the venues, bringing the sport into schools. Sport clubs need funds to organize great events as the Campaccio”. Claudio Pastori, President of Us Sangiorgese said: “I’m glad of what Assessore Rossi said, our young athletes are the most important thing we have.  We have few resoruces but this Campaccio edition will be new, different and more interesting than ever.”.

Danilo Goffi was awarded for his number of presences to the cross in San Giorgio Su Legnano: “I compete for the first time in 1991, I’m still here, after an amazing season in 2014. Campaccio is near my hometown, on this fields and lawn I build up my career and success.”.

At the press conference was also Vice Presidente Livio Mereghetti and the Major of San Giorgio su Legnano, Walter Cecchin.

Finally the race, described by the sport director Marcello Magnani: “We wanted to cut with the past and change; In Italy we have a lot of competing athletes that can challenge runners from all over the world. This Campaccio edition will be appealing, with an high technical level and funny. As it is one of the most important cross country in the world”.

Men race – The technical level will be high as always on the course of San Giorgio su Legnano, the first cross country in Italy and one of the three most important in the world. It will also be a very “Italian”race, because the key runners for this edition are Italians. The biggest name: Daniele Meucci. The Marathon European Champion 2014, also bronze medalist in cross country, individual and team in Budapest 2012, will be at the starting line.

Running for the leading position also Andrea Lalli, another Italian big, now marathon runner but three times cross country European Champion. The last Italian winning Campaccio was Francesco Panetta in 1993, so it is time to update the records.

The Italian champions must watch their back from big star as Garrett Heath (US), winner of the legendary Edinburgh cross (4km) in January 2014 and with a personal record of 13’16”65 on 5000 m. In the starting list also the Canadian Mo Ahmed, 22th in the last cross country World Championship with a personal records of  13’18”88  on 5000m and in the 10.000m final at the Athletic World Championship 2013. Two Polish specialists of the 3000m steeplechase, Krystian Zalewski (5th at Golden Gala 2014) and Tomasz Szymkowiak (4th at Barcellona European Championship 2010) complete the list.

As traditionally, Campaccio looks for a young star in the running circuit, an athlete that must be commented. This edition is the turn of the 19^th years old from Uganda Joshua Cheptegei, World Champion in the 10000 m Juniores, last summer in Eugene, with 28’32”86”. A gold medal on the track, but a bright future also on the lawn of the biggest cross countries in the world, starting from Campaccio. Finally, special mention to the tireless Danilo Goffi Marathon Italian Champion in 2014 and first European athlete in the last New York City Marathon.

Women’s Race – Same high level. First of all, the 2014 breakthrough of the Italian athletics Federica Del Buono, fresh 20th years old and in 2014 an impressing list of victories in 1500m (PB 4’05”32), her distance. Everybody remembers her 5th place at the European Championship in Zurich coming back in the very end, but also the victories in the meeting of Rovereto, Rieti and Pergine Valsugana (800m) also the Italian titles at Torino and Milano, without competitors in the 1500m.

Azzurro again withn Veronica Inglese  10000m Italian Champion this year in Ferrara, third at the Giulietta&Romeo Half Marathon, following Valeria Straneo e Anna Incerti.

The Italian girls must keep the pace of Peres Jepchichir (Kenya) usually running longer distances, from 10000 to the marathon and with a good personal on the half marathon as 1h09’12”.

Kenya again with Janet Kisa, protagonist in several Diamond League meetings, on the 3000m e 5000m, Ruth Chebet from Bahrain, Asian Champion and 3000m steeplechase gold medalist at the 2014 Junior World Championship in 9’36”74.

At the starting line also Almenesh Belete from Belgium with a personal best of 4’06”87” in 1500m and Irine Chebet Cheptai silver medalist in the cross World Junior Championship in 2008 and 10^th in the Cross World Championship of 2013. Competing also the young Nicole Reina, who run last Sunday at the junior cross European Championship, even if a bit under her potential.