IX TOUR OF THE WALLS OF LOANO

PRESS RELEASE (17/09/2015)

Sunday, September 20, a Loano, the ninth edition of the “Tour of the Walls of Loano - Paolo Romanisio Memorial” competitive running race, organized by the Runners Sports Society Loano with contributions from the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano.

“The appointment with the “Tour of the Walls” running race is renewed," says Councillor Remo Zaccaria - which has won the hearts of many fans of the sport over time. The impeccable organization of Runners Loano transformed the competitive race into an event of great technical level. On the event's roll of honor are names of top athletes and respectable times that underscore how the race is not only an event for fans but an important test for top runners as well. This year there will also be many companies from Piedmont and Lombardy, which have put this race on the calendar and will bring a large number of athletes trying to combine the race with a few days of vacation.”

“Appreciated by many fans of the sport and attended by many top-level champions," explain the organizers - the 10-kilometer race has from its first edition met with the favor of the runners who have shown their appreciation for the route, which from the heart of Loano runs around the ancient walls, and the favorable logistics that the City of Loano provides for the holding of the race and related activities.

The big news this year is that the race will be valid as the Single Trial for the Italian championship of the National Union of Sports Veterans, association that boasts many sections throughout Italy. On Sunday, therefore, the Loano waterfront will once again come alive with the colors and enthusiasm of fans, offering the ninth edition of this race that was born as a bet and instead has carved out a starring role for itself and has become a late summer classic.”

The program of the day will include at the opening, at 9.30, the race of the little ones on the Tour of the Walls Baby (1 km) Dedicated to girls and boys aged 8 to 17 (free registration).

The Paolo Romanisio trophy, dedicated to the late Loano runner, will go to the club that fields the most athletes. In recent years, Podistica Savonese and Atletica Cairo have shared the title. The meet and finish of the competitive footrace will be in Italy Square. The award ceremonies will be held in the’Prince's Garden Summer Arena, at 12.00. Musical entertainment will be provided by the music group Vespusurdu.

At the starting blocks (10 a.m.), in Cadorna Square,there will be athletes who will set up a very tight competition, making any prediction uncertain. In the men's field there will be three of the six winners of the nine editions of the race.

Technical notes on the athletes by the Loano Runners Association

The membership list includes. Valerio Brignone (Cambiaso Risso Running Team Ge), winner of the first two editions (2007 and 2008), who will be at the start after winning the M45 cross masters world title last month in Lyon (third world title for him after Riccione in 2007 and Lahti in 2009). Brignone is in his seventh participation in the Tour of the Walls.

Also returning to compete at Loano is the 24-year-old Mohammed El Mounim (Gruppo Citta di Genova) winner in 2011 and 2012, as well as runner-up in 2012 at Run Riviera Run with a personal best of 1h 07’. The athlete a few days ago in Chiari (BS) stopped the stopwatches of the 5,000 race in 14’ 43”, a time that definitely puts him in the position of the race favorite.

Mohamed el Mounim's main opponent may be. Maamari el mehdi (Atletica Palzola), winner of the 10km in Vado last year, credited with a time of 30’30” and who certainly could compete for the final victory, along with fellow clubmate Matthew Pezzana (Atletica Palzola), also clocked around 31 minutes.

Also at the start is the 39-year-old Chihaoui Ridha (Cambiaso Risso Running Team Ge), winner in 2010 and record holder of the race with a time of 30’45”.

Other podium aspirants include 23-year-old Gabrehanna Savio (Genoa City Group), winner during the year of many road races in western Liguria, Conrad Bado (Pro San Pietro Sanremo) and Michele Chiefari (Cambiaso Risso Running Team Ge).

Also to be included among the outsiders with a chance of fitting in among the very top positions is Lombard John Brattoli (G.S. Il Fiorino) who has a personal best of 33’48”.

In the women's field, it should be noted the defection of the four-time winner (2009-2010-2012-2014 ) Emma Quail, injured in training and temporarily away from competition. Therefore to share the favor of the prognosticators will be. Laura Papagna (Cus Genova) who at the Tour of the Walls took third place in 2012, second in 2014 and Maura Rinaldo (Atletica Valsusa), winner of the first edition in 2007.

Also on the course to compete for the podium will be Silvia Radaelli (Atletica Cesano Maderno) who boasts a personal best of 36’48” and Lombardy's Ilaria Zaccagni (Palzola athletics) also with a record close to 37 minutes, as well as multiple international medalist Ornella Ferrara (P.B.M. Bovisio Maasciago), who has World Championships and Olympic Games appearances to her credit in her career but third place in the marathon at the World Absolute Athletics Championships in Gothenburg in 1995 would be enough to define her quality, a champion of the highest value (her marathon record 2h27’49” in 2004 in Rome) will honor the Tour of the Walls with her fifth participation.

Also kicking off with hopes of inserting themselves in the areas that matter in the standings Emanuela Massa (Cambiaso Risso Running Team Genoa) Eleonora Serra (Varazze Athletics), Sonia Cassiano (Cambiaso Risso Running Team Genoa) and Loanese. Alessandra Munerol (Runners Loano).

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