The stele in memory of Maura Viceconte (ph. Benedetto)

La Mandria: conference and Viceconte’s memorial

The weekend at La Mandria Park in Venaria Reale (Turin) has begun today with the applause in memory of Maura Viceconte. It is in fact in memory of the unforgettable champion, who died suddenly in 2019, that a stele reproducing her silhouette is inaugurated, positioned in front of the Castello della Mandria. To reveal it has been Maura's mother, Maria, and the president of the Ente Parchi Reali, lawyer Luigi Chiappero; among others also the brother of the champion, Valter, and her coach Renato Canova. Viceconte, who still holds the Italian record of 10,000 meters, was linked to the Park and was involved in the organization of the 2019 Cross Country Festival which took place right here.

This was followed by the national technical conference on the theme "Getting your feet dirty to run fast", hosted at the Castello della Mandria, in the Sala degli Scudieri adjacent to the Galleria delle Carrozze, which will represent the most evocative passage of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships on 11 December. Success of participants, with over 150 coaches participating at the training event, valid for the assignment of 0.5 training credits; among the many, to mention the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini. The conference opened with greetings from the president of the Parchi Reali Authority Luigi Chiappero who illustrated ideas for a project that could transform La Mandria into a federal technical center with a grass runway.

The J Medical Cross course (ph. Benedetto)

Afterwards, Federico Leporati, technical manager of the national middle-distance sector, introduced the works and moderated the speeches.

Claudio Pannozzo, associate to the national middle-distance technical sector for the seniors and youth activity, spoke on the theme "The preparation of the cross: organic and neuromuscular aspects". Silvano Danzi, middle-distance coach, discussed the theme "The role of cross in the preparation of fast middle-distance". Paolo Cavallo (sports doctor) and Federico Bristot (J Medical physiotherapist) explored the topic of "Injuries and functional tests for preventive purposes in endurance". Gianni Crepaldi, collaborator of the national technical middle-distance sector for the absolute and youth activity, spoke on "The role of the cross in the preparation of the long distances".

The conference was organized by the Piemonte 2022 La Mandria Park Organizing Committee in collaboration with the La Mandria Training Center, Athletics Venaria Reale and the Durbano Gas Energy Rivarolo 77 Team and with the Ente Parchi Reali. The weekend at La Mandria Park will culminate with the J Medical Cross on Sunday, a test that will give indications for the composition of the italian team that will take part in the European Championships. Athletes will have the opportunity to test most of the route of the continental event. Many big italian athletes expected, including Eyob Faniel returning to competitions.

Danzi, Bristot, Cavallo, Crepaldi, Pannozzo (ph. Benedetto)