Italian Yeman Crippa set a new Italian half-marathon record, clocking a 59:01 performance at the Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon on Sunday. The Trentino native, the reigning European half marathon champion, made history once again in Naples, breaking his own Italian half marathon record and the race record set in 2022.
The men
Just one second short of the 59:00 barrier, Crippa crossed the finish line in 59:01, an amazing time that ranks as the second fastest European performance ever. It sits only behind Sweden’s Andreas Almgren, who ran 58:41 in Valencia last October, the seventh-fastest performance in the world in the 2026 season. Naples celebrates in grand style its role as European Capital of Sport 2026.
“I achieved one of my dreams – taking my own Italian record and lowering it by 25 seconds. I’m extremely happy and very satisfied with my time; it’s a wonderful day. This result is the product of a lot of training, perfect weather, but also a special magic that exists only here in Naples and the support of the crowd, which gave me incredible energy. The Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon is definitely very fast. I’m over the moon to have started 2026 in such a great way – now I have to stay grounded for the next goals,” said Crippa.
“In the first part of the race, I followed the pacemaker, the Kenyan Gideon Kiprotich, who did a great job. I stayed right behind him until kilometre 10, and I felt quite relaxed, then I started doing some calculations in my head. I took control of the race and kept pushing together with Andrea Kiptoo. Coming out of the tunnel, I realized I could finish around 59 minutes – I was hoping for 58:59 and missed it by a second. I’m happy for myself, for the city of Naples and for the whole staff – I feel like part of a big family.”
“More and more people are getting into running. At the beginning, it’s a very hard sport, but then you can’t live without it. In recent years, there has been a real boom, and I’m very happy about it because it’s a sport that can be discovered and practised at any age. For us professionals,s it’s great that the mass of runners understands the value of our performances and motivates us. Today, when I saw the amateur runners on the course cheering for me, it gave me an incredible boost,” he concluded.
Yeman Crippa – 59:01
Andrea Kiptoo – 59:27
Owen Korir Kapkama – 59:42
Strong fourth place for Italy’s Pietro Riva in 1:00:32. The Italian podium was completed by Giovanni Susca in 1:04:16.
The women
In the women’s race, victory went to Kenya’s Lucy Nthenya Ndambuki in 1:08:48.
“I’m very happy. I took the lead from the start, but only at the 15th kilometre did I realize I would win, and I pushed as hard as I could. It’s my first time here in Naples – a very beautiful city and a perfectly organized race.”
Second place for compatriot Nelly Jeptoo in 1:09:26, followed by Finland’s Susanna Saapunki in 1:10:35.
Sixth overall and first Italian, Sara Bottarelli in 1:14:11, ahead of Gaia Gagliardi (1:15:52) and Rebecca Volpe (1:17:55).
A bright sun and perfect conditions welcomed the runners at the 9:00 am start, with 10,000 participants ready to chase a shared finish line, made even more exciting by the outstanding elite results.
Naples also experienced an intense day with the Hyundai Relay and the Family Run & Friends, bringing around 2,000 additional participants.
“The emotions are overwhelming and incredibly intense. Today completes a project that started ten years ago with very clear goals: some achieved, such as setting the Italian marathon and half marathon records and bringing more than 10,000 runners to the streets of Naples. Other goals are close – with today’s performance, Crippa becomes the second fastest European ever. We at Napoli Running are ready to roll up our sleeves to target the European record. The enthusiasm of having written history will be our energy to do more and do even better, because this event projects Naples among the European capitals of running,” said Carlo Capalbo, President of Napoli Running.
He also highlighted the organization’s social commitment, including the “We Run Again” project with inmates from the Pasquale Mandato prison in Secondigliano.
“2026 will be remembered for a full collection of records and emotions. Today Naples shines – and I’m sure it will shine even more in 2027.”
“Today gives us a simple message: in Naples, projects can truly become reality. The Coelmo Napoli City Half Marathon has shown a vibrant, well-organised and international city. It is an encouraging sign as Naples prepares to live its role as European Capital of Sport and to host global events such as the next America’s Cup,” commented Marco Monsurrò, CEO of Coelmo.
The Councillor for Sport, Emanuela Ferrante, added: “In the year in which Naples is the European Capital of Sport, it is a tremendous achievement to host 10,000 athletes on the streets of our city.”
“A special thanks to the citizens who came out to cheer, to the institutions, to our partners, and above all to the volunteers, who share the work of the event with passion, experience and great generosity,” Capalbo concluded.
Race split – 10 km
At 10 km: 28:04 for Crippa, Kiptoo, Kapkama and Brian Kwemoi Kirui, led by pacemaker Kiprotich. Pietro Riva followed just four seconds behind. In the women’s race, Ndambuki passed 10 km in 31:39, ahead of Jeptoo (32:18) and Regina Cheptoo (33:11). Sara Bottarelli was sixth in 34:40.
