The Campaccio is an annual cross country running competition which takes place in early January in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy. Organised by the Unione Sportiva Sangiorgese (Sangiorgese Sports Association), the event attracts participation from Olympic and world champions in athletics, in spite of the fact that the host town has a population of just over 6000.[1] It is typically the first major athletics event of the year in Italy,[2] and holds IAAF Cross Country Permit status.[3]
| Campaccio | |
|---|---|
 Dathan Ritzenhein racing on the course in 2015 | |
| Date | Early January |
| Location | San Giorgio su Legnano,  Italy |
| Event type | Cross country |
| Distance | 10 km for men 6 km for women |
| Established | 1957 |
| Official site | Campaccio |
| Participants | 138 (2022) 110 (2021) 174 (2020) 163 (2019) |
History edit
The event was first held in 1957 in a rough patch of farmland in the town and derives its name from the word "Campasc", which means "uncultivated field" in the local dialect.[4] The Campaccio began as a men's only race, but expanded to include a men's junior race in 1961.[4] The first women's race was held in 1970, with Paola Cacchi taking the inaugural honours, but it was not until 1975 that the women's contest became an annual fixture. The men's race was held over 12 kilometres for much of its history, but this was changed to a 10 km race in 2008. The women's race was initially around 3.5 km but settled on a 6 km format in the mid-1990s.[5]
The competition has particular importance to Italian cross country runners as performances at the race, as well as the Italian national championships, often determine the national selection for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.[6] The organisers successfully bid to hold the 2006 European Cross Country Championships in San Giorgio su Legnano, which coincided with the 50th edition of the Campaccio cross country race. In celebration of the anniversary, prominent Italian athletics journalist Ennio Buongiovanni published a book documenting the event's history: Campaccio e Dintorni - 50 Anni Di Storia (Campaccio and its Setting – 50 Years of History).[7] As a result of the continental championships (scheduled in mid-December), independent Campaccio races were not held in either 2006 or 2007.[5]
The men's race often features the top Kenyan and Italian runners, while the women's elite race attracts a greater variety of nationalities, particularly Europeans.[8][9] Past winners on the men's side include world champions Paul Tergat, Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie and Eliud Kipchoge. The women's race has been won by world champions Jackline Maranga, Ingrid Kristiansen and Grete Waitz, as well as prominent marathoners Uta Pippig and Paula Radcliffe. Some of Italy's best runners have taken victory at the Campaccio, such as steeplechase world champion Francesco Panetta, Olympic marathon winner Gelindo Bordin, Gabriella Dorio (1984 Olympic champion) and Olympic medallist Paola Pigni-Cacchi.[5][4]
Past senior race winners edit
Key: Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1957 | Franco Volpi (ITA)
|
? | Not held | |
| 2nd | 1958 | Riccardo Della Minola (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 3rd | 1959 | Giorgio Gandani (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 4th | 1960 | Giorgio Gandani (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 5th | 1961 | Luigi Conti (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 6th | 1962 | Franco Volpi (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 7th | 1963 | Antonio Ambu (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 8th | 1964 | Antonio Ambu (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 9th | 1965 |  Nedjalko Farcic (SCG)
|
? | ||
| 10th | 1966 | Antonio Ambu (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 11th | 1967 | Antonio Ambu (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 12th | 1968 | Antonio Ambu (ITA)
|
? | ||
| 13th | 1969 | Nedjalko Farcic (SCG)
|
? | ||
| 14th | 1970 |  Lutz Philipp (GER)
|
? | Paola Cacchi (ITA)
|
? |
| 15th | 1971 |  Wohib Masresha (ETH)
|
? | Not held | |
| 16th | 1972 | Danijel Korica (SCG)
|
? | ||
| 17th | 1973 |  Juan Hidalgo (ESP)
|
39:45 | ||
| 18th | 1974 | Danijel Korica (SCG)
|
38:30 | ||
| 19th | 1975 | Luigi Zarcone (ITA)
|
40:51 | Margherita Gargano (ITA)
|
10:38 |
| 20th | 1976 | Franco Fava (ITA)
|
37:17 | Gabriella Dorio (ITA)
|
14:24 |
| 21st | 1977 | Franco Fava (ITA)
|
36:11 | Carmen Valero (ESP)
|
13:21 |
| 22nd | 1978 | Franco Fava (ITA)
|
35:06 | Carmen Valero (ESP)
|
12:48.9 |
| 23rd | 1979 |  Bronisław Malinowski (POL)
|
33:33.3 | Margherita Gargano (ITA)
|
12:56 |
| 24th | 1980 | Venanzio Ortis (ITA)
|
37:26.9 | Cristina Tomasini (ITA)
|
13:46.8 |
| 25th | 1981 | José Luis González (ESP)
|
33:11 |  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)
|
12:18 |
| 26th | 1982 | Venanzio Ortis (ITA)
|
? | Grete Waitz (NOR)
|
? |
| 27th | 1983 |  Léon Schots (BEL)
|
? |  Ruth Smeeth (GBR)
|
? |
| 28th | 1984 | Gelindo Bordin (ITA)
|
? | Ruth Smeeth (GBR)
|
? |
| 29th | 1985 | Bogusław Mamiński (POL)
|
37:00 | Corinne Debaets (BEL)
|
14:01 |
| 30th | 1986 | Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
? | Cristina Tomasini (ITA)
|
? |
| 31st | 1987 | Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
? | Lieve Slegers (BEL)
|
? |
| 32nd | 1988 | Gelindo Bordin (ITA)
|
33:55 | Rosanna Munerotto (ITA)
|
14:08 |
| 33rd | 1989 | Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
34:24.9 | Maria Curatolo (ITA)
|
14:01.1 |
| 34th | 1990 | Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
34:42 | Nadia Dandolo (ITA)
|
16:19 |
| 35th | 1991 |  Jonah Koech (KEN)
|
36:16 | Uta Pippig (GER)
|
18:01 |
| 36th | 1992 | Stephenson Nyamu (KEN)
|
34:10 | Rosanna Munerotto (ITA)
|
17:02 |
| 37th | 1993 | Francesco Panetta (ITA)
|
34:05 | Rosanna Munerotto (ITA)
|
16:56 |
| 38th | 1994 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
|
37:39 | Silvia Sommaggio (ITA)
|
22:41 |
| 39th | 1995 | Fita Bayisa (ETH)
|
34:38 | Merima Denboba (ETH)
|
20:28 |
| 40th | 1996 | Shem Kororia (KEN)
|
36:58 | Florence Barsosio (KEN)
|
22:29 |
| 41st | 1997 | Paul Tergat (KEN)
|
36:15 | Kutre Dulecha (ETH)
|
21:38 |
| 42nd | 1998 | Bernard Barmasai (KEN)
|
35:07 | Jackline Maranga (KEN)
|
20:49 |
| 43rd | 1999 | Paul Koech (KEN)
|
34:24 |  Zahra Ouaziz (MAR)
|
20:09 |
| 44th | 2000 | Hillary Korir (KEN)
|
35:41 | Florence Barsosio (KEN)
|
19:33 |
| 45th | 2001 |  Paulo Guerra (POR)
|
36:38 | Merima Denboba (ETH)
|
22:00 |
| 46th | 2002 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)
|
34:51 | Paula Radcliffe (GBR)
|
21:03 |
| 47th | 2003 |  Serhiy Lebid (UKR)
|
35:59 |  Helena Javornik (SLO)
|
21:23 |
| 48th | 2004 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)
|
34:36 |  Anikó Kálovics (HUN)
|
20:42 |
| 49th | 2005 | Serhiy Lebid (UKR)
|
36:10 | Rita Jeptoo (KEN)
|
19:38 |
| 50th | 2006 | Held in conjunction with 2006 European Cross Country Championships | |||
| — | 2007 | Not held | |||
| 51st | 2008 | Edwin Soi (KEN)
|
29:46 | Kate Reed (GBR)
|
19:55 |
| 52nd | 2009 | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
|
29:54 | Anikó Kálovics (HUN)
|
20:33 |
| 53rd | 2010 | Abreham Cherkos (ETH)
|
28:52 | Anikó Kálovics (HUN)
|
20:17 |
| 54th | 2011 | Joseph Ebuya (KEN)
|
28:15 | Anikó Kálovics (HUN)
|
20:04 |
| 55th | 2012 | Edwin Soi (KEN)
|
29:13 | Mercy Cherono (KEN)
|
19:26 |
| 56th | 2013 | Muktar Edris (ETH)
|
28:42 | Worknesh Degefa (ETH)
|
19:26 |
| 57th | 2014 |  Albert Rop (BHR)
|
28:19 | Hiwot Ayalew (ETH)
|
18:59 |
| 58th | 2015 |  Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
29:08 | Janet Kisa (KEN)
|
19:00 |
| 59th | 2016 | Imane Merga (ETH)
|
28:50 | Alice Aprot (KEN)
|
18:56 |
| 60th | 2017 | Muktar Edris (ETH)
|
28:54 | Hellen Obiri (KEN)
|
18:32 |
| 61st | 2018 | James Kibet (KEN)
|
29:34 | Lilian Rengeruk (KEN)
|
19:02 |
| 62nd | 2019 | Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH)
|
29:18 |  Yasemin Can (TUR)
|
19:21 |
| 63rd | 2020 | Mogos Tuemay (ETH)
|
29:01 | Fotyen Tesfay (ETH)
|
19:27 |
| 64th | 2021 |  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)
|
29:07 | Tsehay Gemechu (ETH)
|
19:03 |
| 65th | 2022 | Addisu Yihune (ETH)
|
28:39 | Dawit Seyaum (ETH)
|
18:48 |
| 66th | 2023 |  Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI)
|
28:42 |  Rahel Daniel (ERI)
|
19:10 |
| 67th | 2024[10] | Daniel Ebenyo (KEN)
|
29:16 | Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI)
|
19:42 |
Winners by country edit
| Country | Men's race | Women's race | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy |
24 | 12 | 36 |
| Kenya |
12 | 9 | 21 |
| Ethiopia |
12 | 8 | 20 |
| Great Britain |
0 | 4 | 4 |
| Hungary |
0 | 4 | 4 |
| Serbia and Montenegro |
4 | 0 | 4 |
| Spain |
2 | 2 | 4 |
| Belgium |
1 | 2 | 3 |
| Germany |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Norway |
0 | 2 | 2 |
| Poland |
2 | 0 | 2 |
| Ukraine |
2 | 0 | 2 |
| Bahrain |
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Uganda |
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Morocco |
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Portugal |
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovenia |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 United States |
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Turkey |
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Burundi |
1 | 0 | 1 |
| Eritrea |
0 | 1 | 1 |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ 2006 European XC Championships Media Guide – General Information about San Giorgio su Legnano. European Athletics. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2008-01-03). Soi, Mosop the headliners at Italian Cross Country season kick off in Campaccio. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Cross, i protagonisti del 54° Campaccio Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian). FIDAL. Retrieved on 2011-01-13.
- ^ a b c 3 STELLE CHE ILLUMINANO IL CAMPACCIO Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Unione Sportiva Sangiorgese. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ a b c Civai, Franco & Lorange, Francois (2011-01-10). Campaccio Classica del Cross. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2005-02-11). Lebid on course to recapture Campaccio title. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2006-11-09). European XC to mark Campaccio's 50th anniversary. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2011-01-06). Ebuya and Kalovics take Campaccio Cross Country win. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2003-01-07). Europeans win the day at Campaccio. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
- ^ "67° Campaccio-International Cross Country | Results | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
- List of winners
- Civai, Franco & Lorange, Francois (2011-01-10). Campaccio Classica del Cross. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
Further reading edit
- Buongiovanni, Ennio (2006). Campaccio e Dintorni - 50 Anni Di Storia. ISBN 978-88-87110-96-8
External links edit
