Half Marathon Story
The half marathon that takes place alongside the Stramilano 10 km is a spectacular, internationally renowned race. It was first held in 1976, when it was won by the Colombian athlete Victor Mora. It has always been run over the traditional distance of 21.097 km, except for in 1985. This is the story of the Stramilano Half Marathon and the exceptional athletes that have competed in the race over the years.
1976-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 2010-2024
1976-1979
The first race for top-class athletes was held early one Sunday morning, before the crowds hit the streets for the fun run. The first time to go into the record books was an excellent 1:02:28 by the moustached Colombian of indigenous origins Victor Mora, who beat the prominent Italian athletes Fava and Cindolo. In the following years, the reputation of the race grew and victories were claimed by the Ethiopian Mohammed Kedir (1977), the Italian Franco Fava (1978) and the Chilean Edmundo Warnke (1979).
1980-1989
The second decade in the Stramilano’s competitive history began with a victory for the Ethiopian Wolde Roble, who was almost sprinting as he crossed the line ahead of Victor Mora, the first winner of the race. The following editions saw triumphs by the Australian De Castella (1981) and the Ethiopian Kedir (1982), who had also won in 1977 and this time set a new course record of 1:01:02. Next it was the turn of the great Alberto Cova, who claimed the first of his three top spots (the others would come in 1984 and 1986). In 1984, a marathon took place alongside the race over the usual distance. It was part of the official fixtures calendar for the Italian marathon championship and it was comfortably won by Gianni Poli. In 1985, a Portuguese team won the only Stramilano raced as a marathon, which was actually a relay event. Subsequently, a notable victory was claimed by the Olympic marathon winner Gelindo Bordin (1987). The Brazilian Diamantino was pipped to the post, but he made up for it by reaching the top of the podium the following year. Francesco Panetta played a prominent role in this part of the race’s history and came in second place twice. On the second occasion (in 1989), a win by the Kenyan John Ngugi was the first in a long series of victories by African runners. Except for on a couple of occasions, they have kept a tight grip on first place ever since.
1990-1999
Between 1990 and 1993, Moses Tanui was the undisputed king of the Stramilano. He broke the course record twice, setting times of 1:00:51 in 1991 and 59:47 in 1993. The latter time was a real milestone in athletics history because he was the first person to break the one-hour barrier for the half marathon. 1993 also saw the first all-Kenyan podium, which was occupied by Tanui, Masai and a very young Paul Tergat. From the following year, Tergat was untouchable in the Stramilano. He enjoyed no fewer than six consecutive victories between 1994 and 1999. The highlight came in 1998, when he set a half marathon world record of 59:17 which went unbeaten for a long time. He had actually already posted an exceptional winning time of 58:51 in 1996, but it was not ratified because the course was found to be 49 metres too short.
2000-2009
The Kenyan Patrick Ivuti started off the new millennium with two wins in a row in the Stramilano International Half Marathon (2000 and 2001). This was followed in 2002 by the return of an Italian runner to the top of the podium, in what was the country’s last success to date. Rachid Berradi was the man to bring an end to a Kenyan monopoly that had lasted for no fewer than 13 races. In doing so, he set an Italian half marathon record of 1:00:20. The following year, the Tanzanian John Yuda was the first to cross the line. Next came four wins for the magnificent Kenyans: Robert Kipchumba in 2004, Kenebei W. Kiprotich in 2005, Paul Kimaiyo Kimugul in 2006 and Philemon Kipchumba Kisang in 2007. During this winning streak, the Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini claimed an impressive third place in 2006. Philemon Kipchumba Kisang held onto his crown in 2008, while in 2009 there was another all-Kenyan podium, with Paul Kimaiyo Kimugul on the top step. In the women’s race, the Hungarian athlete Aniko Kalovics had a hat trick of wins in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Brazil’s Maria Zeferina Baldaia went on to triumph in 2008, when Ornella Ferrara put in a great performance to come third. In 2009, the Ethiopian Aberu Shewaye won the race and set the current women’s Stramilano record with an outstanding time of 1:08:43.
2010-2024
In 2010, another Kenyan trio filled the podium after Moses Cheruiyot Mosop stormed home in a stunning 59:20. Their compatriot Jane Kiptoo Jepkosgei continued the Kenyan dominance by winning the women’s race. In 2011, the Kenyan Mathew Kisorio topped an elite field of the very finest half marathon runners when he crossed the line all by himself in a breathtaking time of 1:00:03. He was followed 17 seconds later by his fellow countryman Eric Ndiema, who won the sprint for second place against the Ethiopian Dereje Hailegiorgis. In the women’s race, the wonderful Italian athlete Anna Incerti was beaten into second place by the Ethiopian Eyeshaneh Ababel, who finished in 1:09:54. The Italian athletes put in a great performance in 2012, when Andrea Lalli did superbly to come second behind the Ethiopian Jacob Yarso Kintra, who crossed the line in 1:01:07. Third place went to the Kenyan Kiprop Limo. It was a great day for Italy in the women’s race as well, as Valeria Straneo came first in 1:08:48, Palermo’s Anna Incerti came second in 1:10:36 and Marcella Mancini claimed third place in 1:15:31, completing an Italian hat trick. The rainy 2013 edition broke a record before the race even began, when an unprecedented number of people entered the half marathon. Having finished third in 2012, the 20-year-old Kenyan Kiprop Limo topped a field of more than 6,000 as he came home in 1:01:49. In his half marathon debut, the Moroccan-born athlete from Lecco Ahmed El Mazoury earned an extraordinary third place (1:03:37) behind Kenya’s highly acclaimed Robert Kwemoi Chemosin. In the women’s race, the Kenyan duo Pauline Njeri Kahenya (1:11:19) and Hellen Jepkurgat (1:11:21) came first and second, ahead of Italy’s Emma Quaglia and Elena Romagnolo in third and fourth place.
The 2014 edition is a triumph for African runners: Thomas J. Lokomwa (Kenya) earned the first place, while his compatriot Limo reached the second place and Busienei (Uganda) the third one. Lucy Wambul Murigi (Kenya) won the women’s race, followed by the Ethiopians Konjit Tilahun Biruk and Kumesci Sichala Deressa. In 2015 Lokomwa was one more time the champion of Stramilano Half Marathon, with a better time (1h00’33”). In the women’s race Murigi (third place) was beaten by Kangogo Rebecca Chesire (Kenya), who arrived in 1h08’21”.
The 2016 edition came with a great surprise: a new Stramilano record! James Mwanji Wangari reached the finish line in just 59’12”, while Rael Nguriatukei Kiyara (Kenya) won the first place in the women’s race in 1h10’19”.
The 2017 came with a new record for women runners: Ruth Chepngetich earned the first place in 1h07’42”. In the men’s race the first place was conquered by the Kenyan Fredrick Moranga (1h01’20”), while the Italian runners, men and women, reached the finish line with a good time: 1h03’43” for Daniele Meucci (seventh place) and 1h12’35” for Anna Incerti (fourth place).
In 2018 the Kenyan Felix Kibitok (1.00’11’’) triumphed, behind him the Eritrean Pertile Shimay Solomon with and another Kenyan, Paul Mwangi. The female category is dominated by the Ethiopian Sutuma Kebedeche with 1.07’54’’ followed by the Kenyan Ruth Karanja and Pauline Esikon. In 2019 Kenya again wins the gold medal in both the men’s and women’s competitions with Raimoi Vincent Kibor (1h00’10’’) and Jeptoo Priscah (1h08’26’’). Great satisfaction also for the blue Lorenzo Dini, who sets a new personal best with a time of 1h03’35’’ and finishes fifth overall.
Stramilano finally restarts in 2022, after a two-year break due to the pandemic and Kenya is once again the protagonist with Simba Dickson Nyakundi who arrives first (1h03’47’’). The women’s gold instead belongs to Giovanna Epis (1h11’46’’), Milanese by adoption who runs with the C.S. Carabinieri. Great demonstration of courage and perseverance by Silvia Furlani, greeted on arrival by a roar of applause.
The 2023 edition, the 50th anniversary of Stramilano, sees Kenya maintaining the podium with the performance of Cosmas Mwangi Boi (59’40”), followed by Isaac Kipkemboi Too (1h01’05”). The bronze medal went to Bernard Musau Wambua (1h01”09”). Also noteworthy is the excellent performance Salvatore Gambino (1h04″57”). Excellent 5th place for Pasquale Selvarolo with 1h02’54”.
The women’s race is full of surprises: first place for the Kenyan athlete Gladys Cherop Longari (1h07’28”) and same time for the Ethiopian Aberash Schilima Kebeda (1h07’28”); third place instead for Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh (1h07’30”). First among the Italian athletes Giovanna Epis (6th classified) with 1h12’01”.
Record participation for the 2024 edition, with 8,000 attendees and registrations sold out before closing. The podium is all Kenyan with Antony Kimtai (1h00’31”) in first place, followed by Vincent Kimutai TOWETT (1h00’41”) and Simon Mwangi WAITHIRA (1h00’43”). In the women’s field, the Ethiopian Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh triumphed (1h07’55”), followed by Morine Gesare Michira (1h08’13”) and Matea Parlov Kostro (1h11’14”).
