Maria SS. degli Ammalati National Road Race Trophy

A race in the heart of the patronal feast

The Maria SS. degli Ammalati National Road Race Trophy is the sporting event that brings the Municipality of Misterbianco, just outside Catania, to life every September. The race is an integral part of the celebrations in honor of Maria SS. degli Ammalati, the city's patron saint—a devotion rooted in the centuries-old history of Misterbianco that weaves together religious fervor, historical commemoration, and popular participation.

History of a prestigious race

The trophy was established in 1977 and, over the following decades, gained a remarkable reputation on the Italian running scene, attracting top-tier African and international athletes. The list of winners includes legendary names in athletics: Kenyan runner Benson Barus (a multiple winner), Brazilian José da Silva, Moses Tanui, and, most notably, the superstar Eliud Kipchoge, who won in Misterbianco in 2002 at just eighteen years old, years before becoming the greatest marathon runner of all time.

After the last edition in 2010, the event went on a long hiatus. It was relaunched thanks to the determination of historic organizers Santo Baudo and Santo Spina, at the helm of ASD Atletica Misterbianco, bringing the trophy back to the Sicilian racing calendar.

The course and format

The race takes place on a 1 km city circuit repeated ten times, for a total distance of 10 km, through the historic center of Misterbianco, with the start and finish line on Via Giordano Bruno. The race starts in the late afternoon, around 6:00 PM, when the sunset light and the crowds lining the track create a particularly evocative atmosphere. The competition, which is national in scope and international in tradition, awards the top finishers and includes memorials dedicated to athletes and figures linked to the history of the race.

Sport and identity in Misterbianco

The Maria SS. degli Ammalati Trophy is much more than just a road race: it represents a moment of strong identity for the community of Misterbianco and for the entire Sicilian sporting world. The event enjoys the support of local institutions and is part of a rich program of religious and civil events that transform the streets of the center into a stage of tradition and celebration every September.