Record numbers and perfect weather were the setting for the 27th edition of the Roma Appia Run which today gave the Capital a day of sport and participation.
Ten thousand enthusiasts animated the streets of Rome, transforming the city in a widespread celebration dedicated to running well-being and enhancement of the historical and landscape heritage. “The Roma Appia Run is now one of the most important running events, not only in Rome, but now also in international level. And the reason why there are thousands and thousands of members is simple: a unique route with itineraries that are a sort of open-air museum – he said Alessandro Onorato, councilor for major events, tourism, sport and fashion of Rome Capital, opening the XXVII edition of the Roma Appia Run – if we also add a component of solidarity and the initiation of the youngest in the sportwe have the ingredients that make this event unique”, he added.
Domenico Liberatore first at the finish line
He was the first to raise his arms at the finish line of the very tough 19 km Domenico Liberatore, athlete of the Podistica Solidarietàwho finished with a time of 1:04:59.
“It wasn’t my first Appia Run, but in this 19km version it was a race of pure emotion – said the winner – not only the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine but a truly suggestive route through the wonders of the Appia Antica. Congratulations for the perfect organization of the race”. Behind the winner, even quite far behind, Vincenzo Tanca, Atletica San Teodorowith a time of 1:07:31, who outsprinted Lorenzo Barilati (1:07:42).
Paola Salvatori triumphs in the women’s field
In the women’s field, success went to Paola Salvatori, US Roma 83already third in the last edition (1:12:10), a teacher known as the ‘flying teacher’: “I want to dedicate the victory to two people who are no longer here, my father and my coach”, her words. Behind the winner Francesca Benato, A.S.D. Team Km Sport (1:16:11) and Veronica Del Grosso, ASD Sporting Club Usa Avezzano (1:16:15).
Once again the Rome Appia Run confirmed its unique character in the national and international running panorama: not just a race, but an experience capable of combining competitive spirit, passion and beauty along the route of the Via Appia Antica, the famous ‘Queen of the Roads’a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The dream for the two thousand twenty-seven edition
Roberto De Benedittis, creator and founder of the Roma Appia Run, at the end of the race he revealed that he was looking ahead: “We have an ambitious dream for 2027: to ideally and physically unite the Appia Antica, a UNESCO heritage site, with the heart of the Campidoglio. We want to design a unique route that crosses Rome Imperiale and you touch the Colosseum until you climb Michelangelo’s hill – he explained – we at ACSI, together with MG Sport and the Follow Your Passion circuit, will immediately get to work to turn this vision into a reality concrete, fusing different eras in a route that has no equal in the world.