Pertile wins the first Moonlight Half Marathon
From Cavallino Treporti to Jesolo a long party for the 2,585 finishers.

Ruggero Pertile signs the first Moonlight Half Marathon podium. The marathoner from Padua wins the spectacular final sprint and gets the better of the Moroccan athlete, Issan Zaid, and of the Kenyan Mark Bett Kipkinyor. The whole three athletes stop the chronometer at 1h07’17”. Just after few seconds the forth place goes to the Kenyan Isaack Kiprotich (1h07’40”) while the fifth one goes after one minute to the Moroccan athlete now naturalized Italian Said Boudalia (1h08'44").

In the women race, the highest stage of the podium goes to the Moroccan Meryem Lamachi who gets the better of the Italian, Marcella Mancini, finishing in 1h16'28". The race of the Italian marathon champion was a bit difficult she tried to run closer to Lamachi but she ran the first part of the race too fast and after that it was too hard to get the better of Lamachi and Mancini finishes second in 1h19'27". Third place to the Swiss athlete Cristina D'Ignazio who ends the race in 1h29'48".

So great happiness and satisfaction for the athlete from Padua – Ruggero Pertile - who has lit the public with a stunning final sprint in Jesolo: “Arriving before a great champion like Bett is a nice satisfaction – are the words of Pertile – unfortunately due to headwind in the first part of the race, the high temperature and the humidity of tonight it was not possible to run faster, but winning a home race is always a pleasure”.

Also the organizers of this new half marathon: the Venicemarathon Club, the City Council of Jesolo and the City Council of Cavallino – Treporti, are satisfied as the race has been a great success. "The challenge has been won – says the President of the Venicemarathon Club Piero Rosa Salva – both from the organizing point of view and the numbers. The race course is ideal to let this race grows and it really can become a classic appointment of this season. The components are exact and the approval showed by the athletes, the public and by the authorities gives us the right great strength”.

The mayor of the two City Councils interested by the race, Francesco Calzavara, mayor of Jesolo and Claudio Orazio, mayor of Cavallino Treporti, who have awarded the winners of the race are very satisfied.
A crowded and enthusiastic Piazza Mazzini has welcomed the final sprint of the men race but also the arrival of the 2,585 finishers who breasted the tape of this first Moonlight Half Marathon.

Along the course there was a party atmosphere as several music groups played rock music and more and more spectators cheered the runners on.
A special spectator, one of the best Italian marathoners – Giovanna Volpato - was right after the finish line to applaud the Assindustria team partner Pertile.
Moonlight Half Marathon, a new race organised by VM

The new year starts with great news for the Venicemarathon Club. It's now official that next 21 May the organizers of the Marathon of Venice, together with the city administrations of Jesolo and Cavallino Treporti, will launch the Moonlight Half Marathon.

Further details will be published soon.