The first edition of the San Francesco Marathon 10.2K was won by Alessio Malfagia from Perugia. The ASD Podistica Lino Spagnoli athlete finished the race with a time of 32 minutes and 14 seconds with an average of 3'14" per kilometre. Among the women, however, the highest podium was achieved by Silvia Tamburi of Atletica Avis Perugia with a time of 35 minutes and 20 seconds.
But it was an entire city that won, thanks also to the benevolent weather that rewarded the race with warm sunshine, which took to the streets to cheer on the 260 athletes called to run the 10.2 kilometres of road that physically and spiritually connected the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi with that of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
The competition was very fast and saw 198 men and 62 women at the starting line, divided into nine categories. On the men's side, Malfagia was 1 minute and 14 seconds ahead of Simone Falomi entered in the SM 50 category for S.S.D. A.R.L. Dynamik Fitness. In third place was Andrea Apostoli Proietti of Atletica Winner Foligno with a time of 33 minutes and 53 seconds.
Also from Atletica Winner of Foligno was the runner-up in the women's competition, Natalya Shishkina, who finished her race with a time of 38 minutes and 26 seconds. Third was Emanuela Varasano of the Capanne Pro Loco Athl. Team, who arrived at the finish line ten seconds behind.
Among the competing athletes, the youngest to participate was Luca Vannucci, class of 2004, while the oldest was Sergio Mancinelli, class of 1945.
All the winners were awarded by the Mayor of Assisi Stefania Proietti and Sports Councillor Veronica Cavallucci. "We are very satisfied," said the first citizen from the award ceremony stage, "with the way Assisi responded, and I thank all the organisers for this splendid day, starting with one of our acquired fellow citizens, Don Federico Claure, who was the first to believe in this project and promote it. The decision to run a marathon in the footsteps of Saint Francis represents more than an event but an idea of fraternity. It is the first step towards a broader shared objective'.
In fact, the SFM 10.2K in Assisi marks the first step towards the 42-kilometre San Francesco Marathon, which will take place on Sunday, 5 November 2023. This event will be the culmination of a long organisational effort that began in 2017 with the intention of uniting sport, friendship and fraternity under Franciscan values. "I Bless You, Life", I bless you, life, the slogan with which the athletes ran these ten kilometres, will be the message that will be relaunched at next year's event. Incidentally, 2023 is an important year because it coincides with the first of the four centenaries that will mark the path of the Franciscan family around the world until 2026.
This edition of the San Francesco Marathon 10.2K was organised by SSD Life Running Assisi, under the patronage of Diocese of Assisi - Gualdo Tadino - Nocera Umbra, of the National Office for Leisure, Tourism and Sport of the Italian Bishops' Conference and the city of Assisi and with the collaboration of theVatican Athleticsthe first Sports Association established, and based, in the Vatican City State, a symbol of dialogue with the world sports community.
