Orsoni and Fiorini Claim Italian Half Marathon Race Walk Titles

Alessandria, Italy – Riccardo Orsoni and Sofia Fiorini emerged victorious at the inaugural Italian Half Marathon Race Walk Championships held Sunday in Alessandria. The event marked the debut of the 21.097-kilometer distance – a discipline that will feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics – and showcased some of Italy’s top race walkers.

Men’s Race: Orsoni Secures Third National Title

Orsoni, representing the Fiamme Gialle club, finished the course in 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 30 seconds. He made the decisive move around the 17-kilometer mark, distancing himself from teammate Gianluca Picchiottino, who secured second place with a time of 1:25:27. This victory adds a third national title to Orsoni’s resume, complementing his previous wins in the 35km race walk (2023 and 2025). He previously finished eighth at the World Championships in Tokyo in the 35km event.

The race saw a compelling early dynamic with Orsoni, Picchiottino, and Olympic champion Alex Schwazer (Atl. San Biagio) forming the leading trio. However, Schwazer’s race was disrupted by a series of penalties. He received three red cards from the judges by the 15-kilometer mark, forcing a temporary stop in the ‘penalty zone.’ After resuming, Schwazer was ultimately disqualified following a fourth infraction.

Michele Antonelli (Aeronautica) rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 1:29:07. In the under-23 category, Giuseppe Disabato (Fiamme Gialle) claimed the title in 1:29:37, finishing ahead of Matteo Giupponi (Carabinieri, 1:29:51) and Luigi Reis (Trieste Atletica, 1:30:25). Andrea Cosi (Carabinieri) did not start the race due to illness.

Women’s Race: Fiorini Continues Dominance

Sofia Fiorini continued her impressive form, securing her second national title in just over a month. Following her marathon race walk victory at Acquaviva delle Fonti, the 21-year-old Tuscan athlete completed the course in 1 hour, 34 minutes, and 20 seconds. This time is remarkably close to the European Athletics ‘target’ performance of 1:34:00 for the continental under-23 record.

Fiorini was followed by Alexandrina Mihai (Fiamme Oro) in 1:36:45, the European U23 champion making her return from injury. Michelle Cantò (Atl. Gran Sasso Teramo) finished third in 1:38:52, and Elisa Marini (Cus Macerata) came in fourth with a time of 1:40:48. Cantò and Marini also secured second and third place respectively in the under-23 category.

Junior Championships Also Held

The event also hosted the first-ever Italian Junior Championships for the 10km race walk on the road. Alessio Coppola (Fiamme Oro) won the men’s race in 40:59, followed by Nicolò Vidal (Pbm Bovisio Masciago, 41:39) and Giuseppe Marchionno (Pol. Tethys Chieti, 43:50). Cristian Cecchetto (Atl. Vicentina) was the fastest all-categories athlete, finishing in 42:21.

Serena Di Fabio (Fiamme Azzurre) dominated the women’s junior race, finishing in 44:17 – just nine seconds off her Italian under-20 record. Valentina Adamo (Atl. Livorno) and Francesca Buselli (La Fratellanza 1874 Modena) finished second and third, respectively.

Looking Ahead: Brasilia World Team Championships

Both Orsoni and Fiorini are now setting their sights on the World Team Race Walk Championships in Brasilia on April 12th. They will compete in the marathon distance, aiming to build on their recent successes and represent Italy on the international stage. The championships will serve as a crucial preparation event for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the half marathon race walk will make its debut.

The Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) also hosted a conference titled “Il passo giusto: marciare verso il futuro” on the eve of the championships, featuring presentations from national technical director Antonio La Torre and other leading figures in the sport.

The championships in Alessandria represent a significant step forward for race walking in Italy, with the introduction of the half marathon distance and the continued development of promising young athletes like Fiorini and Disabato.

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The start in Alessandria (photo Bizioli/FIDAL Piemonte)

Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on the World Team Race Walk Championships in Brasilia and the ongoing development of Italian athletics.