Acteon-Athena in motion, the triumph of the green line

 The 17-year-olds Fekre and Martorano win the tenth edition of the Atinate race – Not a simple handover, but a real generational turning point: for the first time in its ten-year history, Acteon-Athena runningcrowns two athletes born in the Third Millennium. If the name of Mary Magdalene Martorano (AVIS Lagonegro) was already known to the enthusiasts who crowded the streets of Atena Lucana for the event organized by President Peppino's Polisportiva Cirigliano in tandem with the Metalfer-Podistica Brienza 2000, the real revelation was the 17 year old Eritrean Thomas Fekre (Corricastrovillari) who, despite his tender age, interpreted the race with the attitude of a veteran, inheriting the throne vacated by the outgoing champion Giorgio Mario Black.

The beginning of a new era, therefore, on the very day Acteon celebrated its first ten editions. The association then contributed equally to the distinction of praise The houses of Hygieia - which promoted the classic solidarity walk on the last Sunday of the month dedicated to the prevention of breast cancer - and the approximately 50 young and very young people who participated in the promotional races held at the end of the main event.

Immediately after the start from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, three of them take the initiative: in addition to the aforementioned Fekre, Damiano moves De Caesar (Cilento Run) and Umberto Di Martino (Metalfer-Podistica Brienza). Behind them, both Claudio Marcello travels at a good pace Coletta (Pollese Running), both Luigi Palmieri jr. (Avellino Runners): neither of the two, however, will have the strength to get back to the leaders. The leading trio proceeds at a regular pace in the first quarter of the race - played over a distance of 8 km - until Di Martino tries to accelerate: the 36-year-old of the club orange manages to gain no more than 5" on De Cesare and Fekre, who return to the pace halfway through the third lap.

An acceleration of teenager Eritrean – who reached the podium at the Calabrian road racing championships no later than two weeks ago – puts De Cesare in serious difficulty: the 25-year-old from Vallo della Lucania he will no longer be able to get back into the leading pair, still defending third position without any particular problems. Fekre and Di Martino proceed together until the final straight: with a sprint like a nineteenth-century runner, the young athlete of the RunCastrovillari he outpaces his opponent, thus achieving the first victory of his career with a time of 28'33". Palmieri jr off the podium. (59" behind the winner), good at overtaking Coletta in the last round, who defended the last place in the top 5 since Michele's return Barbella (Cilento Run). Followed by Francesco Marzuillo (Sport360), Luca Robortella (Metalfer), Antonio Ferrara (Sporting Calore) and Donatello Barbella (Potenza Amateurs). Titian Cancer (Podistica Pollese), 12th at the finish line, won the special classification for the Atena Lucana runners.

In the women's field, however, Maria Maddalena from Potenza Martorano he dictated the law from the first to the last meter, scoring that double which, in the history of Acteon, had already created the co-regional Maria Rosaria Martino (2013-2014) and Rosanna Murano (2015-2016). The athlete of AVIS Lagonegro (34'04" his time) preceded Francesca Lopardo (Metalfer, at 3'49") and Regina Marta Embellishment (Bernalda Runners, at 5'26").

"It's wonderful to see so many families in the square for our event", commented the president of the Atena Lucana sports club Peppino Cirigliano. «Above all, we are happy that so many children are present, who are increasingly less accustomed to practicing sports. On the contrary, all the members of the association think that it is necessary to bring the little ones back onto the fields and onto the streets." Finally, a simple but effective message aimed at parents and children: "Don't forget that sport, first of all, is fun." Which, ultimately, is the real secret of the success and longevity of this race, as beautiful and exciting yesterday as it is today.

Carmine Marino