The Stramilano Half
The storied history of Milan’s Stramilano Half Marathon (1976) is honoured today with the award the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the category of ‘Competition’.
The location for the first sub-60-minute run in history, the ‘fastest course in Italy’ as the Stramilano was once dubbed, has welcomed the world’s very best runners during its first 50 years among which include Grete Waitz, Rosa Mota, Priscah Jeptoo, Ruth Chepngetich, Rob de Castella, Gelindo Bordin, Moses Tanui, and Paul Tergat.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a location-based recognition, awarded for an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field athletics and of out of stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail and ultra-running, and race walking.
The inaugural Stramilano Half Marathon in 1976
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “Many congratulations to the Stramilano Half Marathon on the award of a World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the category of ‘Competition’.
“The annual half marathon, which was founded in 1976 and today includes supporting 5km and 10km runs for the public, is a Milanese sporting institution. The city has taken the event to its heart with the 5km and 10km runs starting in the Piazza del Duomo, towered over by its world-famous cathedral, while the Pizza del Castello is the departure point for the famous elite half marathon itself.
“The event’s all-time place in running history was secured in 1993 when Moses Tanui ran 59:47, becoming the first person to break the one-hour barrier for the distance. Two-time world half marathon champion Paul Tergat’s six consecutive race victories between 1994 and 1999, including a world record in 1998 which went unbeaten for seven years, further cemented Stramilano’s historic reputation.”
Moses Tanui at the 1993 Stramilano Half
Michele Mesto, president and member of the Stramilano organising committee, commented: "I'm grateful to World Athletics for the award and honoured to receive this plaque on this year that marks 50 years from the first edition of the Stramilano Half Marathon.
"We have hosted many top runners, we have seen here the first runner ever able to break the 60-minute wall; we still have the same passion to involve thousands of people running in Milan. This award pushes us to work harder and better and makes us feel part of the world running community, a member of World Athletics.
"I thank all the colleagues, volunteers and runners who have contributed to the creation of Stramilano over the years; without them, none of this would have been possible."
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque will be on public show in ‘The Stramilano Centre’, the hub of the entire event, in the Piazza del Duomo from Saturday 15 until Saturday 22 March, on which day a ceremony will be held where World Athletics will officially present the plaque to the race organisers.
Following this year’s race on Sunday 23 March, the plaque will be permanently displayed at the race HQ in the Arena Civica, Viale Giorgio Byron, the historic Napoleonic stadium which was opened on 18 August 1807.
Chris Turner for World Athletics Heritage