Ronal Longa Breaks Colombian 100m Record with 9.96 at Savona International Meeting

The 14th edition of the Savona International Meeting, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger, delivered a string of standout performances on Wednesday, May 21. With personal bests, national records, and world-class showings across disciplines, the meet solidified its place as a key early-season event. Colombia's Ronal Longa headlined the competition by clocking a new national 100m record, while top European and international stars added depth and drama across track and field events.

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Men’s 100 Metres

Ronal Longa, 20, set a new Colombian national record with a time of 9.96 (+1.7 m/s), just 0.01 seconds shy of Marcell Jacobs’ meeting record. Earlier in the heats, Longa also dipped under 10 seconds with a wind-assisted 9.99. The young sprinter made headlines in 2023 when he set the South American U20 record at 9.99. Italy’s Lorenzo Patta, Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist, finished second in 10.16, just 0.03 off his personal best. Taymir Burnet (NED) placed third in 10.22, with European indoor champion Samuele Ceccarelli (ITA) close behind in 10.26.

Men’s Shot Put

Leonardo Fabbri, the reigning European champion and 2024 Diamond League winner, dominated the shot put with a season-best 21.21m in round three. It marks his fourth career win in Savona. Fabbri also recorded 21.19m, backing up his top mark. He opened his outdoor season with 20.79m in Neustadt (GER). Training partner Zane Weir placed second with 20.76m, followed by Nick Ponzio (20.06). Olympic finalist Kyle Blignaut and Riccardo Ferrara tied at 19.78m.
Fabbri: “Savona is just the start of a very busy period. I’ll now compete in Zagreb, Rabat, Bydgoszcz and Rome. My goal is to peak at the World Championships in Tokyo.”

Women’s Triple Jump

Olympic champion Thea Lafond won her third Savona title with a leap of 14.31m. Italy’s Erika Saraceni celebrated her 19th birthday by setting a national U20 record of 14.01m, earning second place. Romania’s Elena Talos was third with 13.95m.

Men’s 400 Metres Hurdles

European silver medalist Alessandro Sibilio continued his strong form, winning in 48.44 — a season’s best that broke Abderrahman Samba’s previous meet record. Vit Muller (CZE) followed in 49.47.
Sibilio: “I started faster than usual and ran with a lot of tailwind. I felt tired in the final stretch but happy with the result. I aim to peak at the European Team Championships in Madrid.”

Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles

European champion Lorenzo Simonelli (ITA) won in a wind-assisted 13.24 (+2.6 m/s), edging 2016 Olympic gold medalist Omar McLeod (13.25). Jamal Britt (USA) finished third in 13.43.

Simonelli: “I want to peak later this season for Worlds. Next up is the Grand Slam Track meeting in Philadelphia and then the Golden Gala in Rome, where I’ll face Tinch and Zhoya.”

Women’s 100 Metres Hurdles

World silver medalist Alaysha Johnson (USA) claimed victory in a wind-assisted 12.61 (+3.4 m/s), ahead of Italian champion Giada Carmassi (12.89), France’s Sasha Alessandrini (12.91), and Elena Carraro (12.96).

Men’s 200 Metres

Cuba’s Reyner Mena continued his winning streak in Savona, claiming his third straight 200m title in 20.15. He holds the meeting record of 19.95, set last year. Ryan Zeze (FRA) placed second in 20.50.

Mena: “I love this track and the conditions here.”

Women’s 200 Metres

European relay champion Amy Hunt (GBR) ran 22.44 (+2.5 m/s) for the win, following her 100m PB of 11.03 in Doha. Julia Henrikson (SWE) was second in 22.94, ahead of Italy’s Dalia Kaddari (23.09).

Hunt: “I train in Padua and feel at home in Italy. Competing here is always special.”

Women’s 400 Metres Hurdles

Ayomide Folorunso (ITA), national record holder and World Championships finalist, won in 55.46. Belgium’s Naomi Van den Broeck (55.59) and Italy’s Rebecca Sartori (56.22) followed.

Women’s 400 Metres

Puerto Rico’s Gabby Scott won in 51.57, holding off Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdesley (52.00) and Alessandra Bonora (52.86).

Women’s 100 Metres

Boglarka Takacs (HUN) took the final in a wind-assisted 11.24 (+2.8 m/s), after running 11.21 (+3.6 m/s) in the heats. Portugal’s Lorene Bazolo (11.30), Italy’s Gloria Hooper (11.35), and Spain’s Maria Isabel Perez (11.38) rounded out the top four.

Men’s 1500 Metres

Spain’s Ignacio Fontes broke the meeting record with a 3:35.85 win, narrowly beating Italy’s Ossama El Kabbouri (3:36.85).

Men’s Triple Jump

Italy’s Simone Biasutti won with 16.63m, just four centimeters shy of his personal best.