Campaccio

History

The event was first held in 1957 in a rough patch of farmland in the town and derives its name from the word "Campasc", which means "uncultivated field" in the local dialect. The Campaccio began as a men's only race, but expanded to include a men's junior race in 1961.

The competition has particular importance to Italian cross country runners as performances at the race, as well as the Italian national championships, often determine the national selection for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The organisers successfully bid to hold the 2006 European Cross Country Championships in San Giorgio su Legnano, which coincided with the 50th edition of the Campaccio cross country race. In celebration of the anniversary, prominent Italian athletics journalist Ennio Buongiovanni published a book documenting the event's history: Campaccio e Dintorni - 50 Anni Di Storia (Campaccio and its Setting – 50 Years of History). As a result of the continental championships (scheduled in mid-December), independent Campaccio races were not held in either 2006 or 2007.

The men's race often features the top Kenyan and Italian runners, while the women's elite race attracts a greater variety of nationalities, particularly Europeans. Past winners on the men's side include world champions Paul Tergat, Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie and Eliud Kipchoge. The women's race has been won by world champions Jackline Maranga, Ingrid Kristiansen and Grete Waitz, as well as prominent marathoners Uta Pippig and Paula Radcliffe. Some of Italy's best runners have taken victory at the Campaccio, such as steeplechase world champion Francesco Panetta, Olympic marathon winner Gelindo Bordin, Gabriella Dorio (1984 Olympic champion) and Olympic medallist Paola Pigni-Cacchi.

On 6 January 2025, during the 68th edition, the Olympic Silver Medalist of the 10.000m at the Paris 2024 Games, Nadia Battocletti, wins the women's race, marking the return of an Italian winner in the event for the first time after 31 years, when had triumphed Silvia Sommaggio.

Past senior race winners

Key:

Winners by country

References

;List of winners

• Civai, Franco & Lorange, Francois (2011-01-10). Campaccio Classica del Cross. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.

References

1. [http://www.european-athletics.org/files/eccc/media_guide06.pdf 2006 European XC Championships Media Guide – General Information about San Giorgio su Legnano]. [[European Athletics]]. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
2. Sampaolo, Diego (2008-01-03). [http://www.iaaf.org/WXC08/news/kind=100/newsid=42803.html Soi, Mosop the headliners at Italian Cross Country season kick off in Campaccio]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
3. link. (2011-07-20 {{in lang). it. FIDAL. Retrieved on 2011-01-13.
4. link. (2016-03-04 . Unione Sportiva Sangiorgese. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.)
5. The first women's race was held in 1970, with [[Paola Cacchi]] taking the inaugural honours, but it was not until 1975 that the women's contest became an annual fixture. The men's race was held over 12 kilometres for much of its history, but this was changed to a 10 km race in 2008. The women's race was initially around 3.5 km but settled on a 6 km format in the mid-1990s.Civai, Franco & Lorange, Francois (2011-01-10). [https://www.arrs.run/HP_CamXC.htm Campaccio Classica del Cross]. [[Association of Road Racing Statisticians]]. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
6. Sampaolo, Diego (2005-02-11). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid=28484.html Lebid on course to recapture Campaccio title]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
7. Sampaolo, Diego (2006-11-09). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=36727.html European XC to mark Campaccio's 50th anniversary]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
8. Sampaolo, Diego (2011-01-06). [http://www.iaaf.org/WXC11/news/kind=100/newsid=59016.html Ebuya and Kalovics take Campaccio Cross Country win]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
9. Sampaolo, Diego (2003-01-07). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/newsid=20176.html Europeans win the day at Campaccio]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-12.
10. (October 31, 2024). "Tsehay Gemechu gets 4-year ban for suspected blood doping".
11. "67° Campaccio-International Cross Country {{!}} Results {{!}} World Athletics".