The Milanese engineer, who won world bronze in September in the Japanese capital, was sixth, finishing the race in 2h04’26”: improving Chiappinelli’s 2024 time by 58″.
In Tokyo, on September 25, he won world bronze. In Tokyo, tonight, he signed a great Italian record. Iliass Aouani, 167 days later, in the Japanese capital, is the protagonist of another super marathon. The 30-year-old Milanese engineer of Moroccan origins, in the city for ten days, closed the first Major of 2026 in sixth place in a sumptuous 2h04’26”. Compared to the previous national limit, held by Siena’s Yoghi Chiappinelli since December 2024, the progress is 58″. Compared to the personal best, achieved on the same occasion, of 1’40”.
The company
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The standard-bearer of the Fiamme Azzurre thus once again makes his own a record that had already belonged to him for almost a year, starting from March 2023, when he ran 2h07’13” in Barcelona. But Massimo Magnani’s pupil, since then, has made an enormous leap in quality. As confirmed on this occasion. Iliass, on a day of splendid sunshine and far too hot, with the thermometer rising from 11 degrees at the start (at 9.10 local, the 1.10 of the Italian night) at 15 of the arrival, he plays an almost perfect race.
the partial ones
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It runs on wide, streamlined avenues lined with large numbers of spectators. Shortly after the start a couple of Japanese take flight. After the 5th km, only Ryuichi Hashimoto remains in front, one at 2h09′. With kamikaze action, he will remain in the lead until the 26th and a half km. Behind the leading group is large. And it goes smoothly. Aouani, who is always well covered, signs 5 km partials of 14’47”, 14’40”, 14’41”, 14’42”, with a passage to the half in 1h02’01” (group of 17). Then for the blue there is a 14’30”. And when Hashimoto is caught up and overtaken, there are 11 people left to do the dancing, including one last hare.
the attack
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Iliass – bib no. 16, blue suit, sunglasses and Durag for special occasions on his head – he has a composed and elegant action. He always appears very concentrated. From the 25th to the 30th km he runs again in 14’41”. Nine remain: four Kenyans, four Ethiopians and him. Then, from the 30th to the 35th, there is a slight overall decrease: 14’55”. It’s the moment of truth. At 36.5 km there is a decisive attack, with a km of 2’48”. Aouani tries to respond, but very intelligently understands that this is not the case. Four of them leave, all people of great quality: the Ethiopian Takele and the Kenyans Toroitich, Mutiso and Mateiko. The blue is soon joined by the Ethiopian Edris, an old Italian acquaintance and the two proceed in pairs until, at 39.7 km, Iliass loses a few meters and has the strength not to collapse: he knows that the national record is within reach. From 35th to 40th he runs in 14’45” and covers the last 2195 meters in 6’44”.
the arrival
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Ahead is a long four-wheel sprint. For the second consecutive year, Takele wins: 2h03’37”. Then come Toroitich (same time), Mutiso (1″), already king of London and Mateiko (7″). Edris finishes in 2h04’07”. Behind Aouani, who finishes happily by spreading his arms across the finish line in 2h04’26”, seventh European ever, are the Ethiopian Barega, Olympic gold in the 10,000m at Tokyo 2021 and several other big Africans. The second athlete from the Old Continent, the Swede Hassan, is 18th in 2h07’22”. Among the women, the Kenyan Brigid Kosgei won with a prestigious 2h14’29”, ahead of the Ethiopians Bertukan Welde (2h16’36”) and Hawi Feysa (2h17’39”).
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