Italian Masters are back with Indoor Championships and one European Record

A new edition of the Italian Masters Indoor Championships took place in Ancona. Coming back after one-year break, as it was cancelled last season just at the beginning of lockdown, the event had exciting competitions and many notable results, following current safety protocols. Sixteen new national age group records have been set, but above all one European record by 91-year-old Nives Fozzer in W90 shot put with a 5.35 mark.

In the city well-known for having hosted twice European Masters Indoors in 2009 and 2016, this time the Nationals lasted one day more than usual — four instead of three, from March 18th to 21st, to minimize gathering and to have the time for surface cleaning and disinfection at mid-day. Only online entries were accepted, paid with credit card, and each athlete could enter a maximum of two events.

All necessary precautions were taken, with the entrance allowed only to athletes for competing or warming up, without spectators, and of course the mandatory wearing of masks for staff and officials. Almost all disciplines were contested, except relays and combined events. At the award ceremonies, respecting the rules of distancing, medals were collected by the athletes themselves. Then Italian Masters had the chance to compete again also indoors, after the successful outdoor championships of last October in Arezzo.

Among the most outstanding performances Valeria Pedetti, who was named European best race walker in 2018, clocked 14:49.66 at 3000m to improve her own W45 national record. Two long-standing Italian best marks were shattered after more than 30 years. In middle-distance Giuseppe Ugolini, reigning world indoor M55 800m champion, stormed to victory in the 1500m to claim M60 national record in 4:40.73 while veteran sprinter Aldo Del Rio clocked 30.06 at M75 200m. The event had again a coverage in free live video streaming operated by FIDAL Servizi with on-screen graphics.