Andy Diaz Headlines Italian Championships with Massive National Record
The 2026 Italian Athletics Championships concluded in Florence with a series of world-class performances, highlighted by Andy Diaz Hernandez's outstanding Italian outdoor record of 17.87m in the men's triple jump. The two-day meeting at the Luigi Ridolfi Stadium also featured dominant victories from Olympic and world medalists including Leonardo Fabbri, Marcell Jacobs, Nadia Battocletti, Zaynab Dosso, and Alessandro Sibilio, while several rising stars delivered personal bests and breakthrough national titles ahead of next month's European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Two-time world indoor champion and Olympic bronze medallist Andy Diaz Hernandez improved his Italian outdoor record in the men's triple jump to a world lead of 17.87m (+1.2 m/s) on his first attempt at the Italian Championships at the Luigi Ridolfi Stadium in Florence.
Diaz achieved this result on the magical runway of Florence, where he set the previous outdoor national record of 17.75m at the 2023 Golden Gala held in the Ridolfi Stadium. Diaz surpassed the previous overall Italian record set during the first of his two world indoor titles in Nanjing 2025 with 17.80m by seven centimeters. On his third attempt, the Cuban-born jumper went beyond the previous record once again with a leap of 17.81m (+0.4 m/s) before passing on his final three jumps to save energy for the European Championships in Birmingham.
Diaz strengthens his leadership at the top of the world seasonal lists with a result that sparks dreams of a potential attack on the magical 18-meter barrier at the European Championships in Birmingham—the home country of world record holder Jonathan Edwards.
Simone Biasutti broke the 17-meter barrier for the first time in his career with 17.01m on his opening attempt. Biasutti did even better on his second attempt setting a PB of 17.32m. World silver medalist Andrea Dallavalle completed the podium placing third with 16.86m (+0.3 m/s). Italy holds three of the top four spots on the European seasonal list.
Andy Diaz: "I knew I was in great shape but 17.87m is a crazy mark that makes me proud. It is a magical moment. In Birmingham, I want to jump even further and give another great joy to this country. I dedicate this record to my mother and my grandmother who were here with me”.
Men's Shot Put
Leonardo Fabbri triumphed in the men's shot put in his home city Florence with 22.43m on his fifth attempt. Fabbri produced two other throws over the 22-meter line (22.10m on the third attempt and 22.20m on the sixth round. His friend and training partner Zane Weir improved his seasonal best to 21.42m to finish ahead of Nick Ponzio (20.86m).
Leonardo Fabbri: "It was emotional to win in the stadium where I grew up as an athlete in my hometown. At the beginning, I was a bit nervous. The crowd gave me a special energy. The atmosphere at the Ridolfi was crucial to finding the necessary competitive spark. I am going to Birmingham to get a huge result. I am a meter ahead of my opponents."
Men's High Jump:
Matteo Sioli won his first outdoor Italian title, equaling his personal best with 2.30m, the same mark which earned him the European Under-23 title in Bergen last year. The 20-year cleared 2.16m, 2.20m, 2.24m, and 2.27m all on his first attempt, and 2.30m at the first time of asking before failing three attempts at 2.34m.
Matteo Sioli: “It was a special evening. The Italian Championships were one of the season's goals, but always keeping in mind that the biggest event is the European Championships in Birmingham. Gianmarco Tamberi has always been an inspiration. I am sure he will be among the main contenders at the European Championships in Birmingham. Today I jumped very well. Something was missing in the three attempts at 2.34m. The run-up in Florence is very good. This 2.30m jump is an important stepping stone. I will prove my level in Birmingham. I am going to the European Championships to have fun.”
Edoardo Stronati improved his personal best by two centimeters with a jump of 2.27m. Manuel Lando equaled his seasonal best with 2.24m.
Gianmarco Tamberi, Olympic champion in Tokyo 2021, placed sixth with 2.20m before failing three attempts at 2.24m.
Men's 100 Meters
Marcell Jacobs, Olympic champion in Tokyo 2021 and two-time European champion won his sixth career outdoor 100m national title and his tenth overall national title with 10.12. Jacobs finished ahead of Istanbul 2023 European indoor champion Samuele Ceccarelli (10.31) and Olympic 4x100 relay champion Lorenzo Patta (10.34). The final was marked by a tense moment at the start due to a suspected false start by Jacobs. No disqualification was issued, but the false start scare and a headwind of -0.4 m/s slowed down the final times. Jacobs is aiming to become the third sprinter in history to win three European gold medals in Birmingham following in the footsteps of sprint legends Linford Christie and Valeriy Borzov.
Marcell Jacobs: "Honestly, that call at the start completely threw off my rhythm and my focus before the gun. I was convinced I had moved on the blocks and feared the worst. After that psychological block, I only thought about running safely to win this title. It’s my tenth Italian title. This is always a special milestone. The time of 10.12 reflects this tension and the headwind, but the physical feedback is excellent: the fatigue that forced me to skip Monte Carlo is completely behind me. Now we reset everything and head straight to Birmingham; the continental objective remains defending the European title. I have always wanted to honor the Italian Championships. I am happy to see a full stadium. The people gave me great energy.
Women's Triple Jump
European Under-20 champion Erika Giorgia Saraceni claimed her second consecutive outdoor Italian title in the women's triple jump with a spectacular personal record of 14.41m on her first attempt, following a winter season plagued by an inguinal hernia. The Italian 20-year-old jumper moves up to fifth on the all-time Italian list. Saraceni recorded another valid jump of 13.84m. She won her second Italian outdoor following her last year’ win in Caorle, which came just days after her European U20 triumph in Tampere with her previous personal best of 14.24m. Dariya Derkach, European indoor silver medalist in Istanbul 2023, placed second with 14.36m on her second attempt, concluding a highly consistent series that included four other jumps over 14 meters (14.17m, 14.25m, 14.34m, and 14.21m).
Erika Saraceni: "If someone had told me this just three weeks ago, I would never have believed it. I was coming back from a difficult period. I spent 312 days without competing I owe everything to my team who supported me. Entering the runway and landing a 14.41m right on the first jump was a beautiful shock. I felt a lightness that I had missed for a very long time. I knew Dariya Derkach would respond blow for blow; she is a champion, and winning in front of her today makes this national title even more valuable. Now I know I can compete head-to-head with Europe's best. I only resumed training on June 8th. I wanted to take back everything I lost over these months. I hit the big jump right on the first try. It was hard to endure all six jumps. In Birmingham, I will truly be at peak form”
Men's Long Jump:
Francesco Inzoli won his first Italian outdoor title in the men's long jump with a PB of 8.27m with a +1.5 m/s tailwind on his first attempt. This follows his victory at the Italian Under-23 Championships in Molfetta, where he had won with a wind-assisted 8.30m and a legal 8.25m. Inzoli also recorded a second-best jump of 8.12m on his third attempt. He moves up to fourth place on the Italian all-time lists behind Andrew Howe, Mattia Furlani, and Giovanni Evangelisti, and consolidates his sixth position on this year's European season lists.
Francesco Inzoli: “It is my first Italian title. My short-term goal is the European Championships in Birmingham. The feelings were good. I dedicate this Italian title to my parents, who made a long journey to watch me.”
Women's Hammer Throw:
Sara Fantini, European champion in Rome 2024, claimed the tenth outdoor Italian title of her career in the hammer throw—and her nineteenth overall, taking into account her nine victories in the winter throwing championships. Fantini achieved the winning mark of 73.33m in an excellent series that included five throws over 71.55m. This is the complete sequence of throws for the Italian record holder: 73.33m, 73.21m, foul, 71.83m, 71.56m, and 72.70m. The daughter of former Italian shot putter Corrado Fantini confirmed her excellent form after coming close to the Italian record with 75.62m in Madrid on July 16th.
Women's 100 Meter Hurdles:
Celeste Polzonetti won the women's 100-meter hurdles final, equaling her personal best with a time of 12.74—a mark she had already achieved during the NCAA Championship semifinals before placing second in the final with 12.79in Eugene. The 20-year-old Italian hurdler is coached by Athens 2004 Olympic champion Joanna Hayes at the UCLA University
Men's 800 Meters:
Francesco Pernici won the men's 800-meter final in 1:44.89 in one of the most highly anticipated races of these National Championships, especially after his Italian of 1:43.60 in Nancy. Pernici broke Marcello Fiasconaro's historic 53-year-old Italian record with a time of 1:43.60. This performance places the Italian athlete fourth on this year's European season lists. Pernici beat the indoor Italian champion and European Under-23 bronze medalist Giovanni Lazzaro (1:45.49).
Francesco Pernici: “I wrote history in the 800 meters, but I know I still have a lot of work to do. I know I am capable of making the final at the European Championships in Birmingham. This season is a stepping stone toward the upcoming major events, starting with the European Championships in Birmingham. I dedicate this victory to my coach Dalmazio Bersini and to my girlfriend Sara, who will become my wife.”
Women's 100 Meters
Zaynab Dosso won her seventh Italian title in the last eight years and her fifth consecutive over 100 meters with a time of 11.24. She finished ahead of 4x100 relay European under 20 champion Alice Pagliarini (11.48).
Zaynab Dosso: "Winning the national champion jersey always make me proud. It’s an honor; you never get used to it. The headwind did not help anyone in the closing stages. The main goal today was to confirm my status and bring home the title in total safety. Now, my mind is focused exclusively on the European Championships”
Men's 400 Meters:
Edoardo Scotti won the 400-meter final in an excellent 44.96, becoming the first Italian athlete in history to drop under 45 seconds at the Italian Championships. Scotti, the Italian record holder with a time of 44.45 set at the World Championships in Tokyo, collected his sixth title in the last seven editions. Lorenzo Benati placed second in 45.21, improving his personal best by 13 hundredths of a second. Luca Sito, the former Italian record holder with 44.75, completed the podium in third place with 45.62.
Men's 400 Meter Hurdles:
European silver medalist and Italian record holder Alessandro Sibilio won the men's 400-meter hurdles in 48.50, coming within just one hundredth of a second of his seasonal best set during his second-place finish at the Madrid meeting.
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles:
Ayomide Folorunso won the eleventh Italian title of her career across indoor and outdoor championships, claiming the women's 400-meter hurdles final in 54.41. This time improves her seasonal best of 54.53, which she recorded in Madrid on July 16th.
Women's 400 Meters:
Anna Polinari won the women's 400-meter final in 51.38, following her victory with a personal best of 50.36 at the Madrid meeting. Indoor Italian record holder Alice Mangione finished second in 51.98, overtaking Alessandra Bonora (52.06) in the final meters.
Women's 1500m/5000m:
World indoor 3000m champion Nadia Battocletti won her sixth career national title in the women's 5000 meters, clocking 15:12.65 with a blistering final kilometer timed in 2:54. Micol Majori finished second in 15:20.81.
Nadia Battocletti: "The test was definitely positive to rediscover the right feeling with the track and to evaluate my current shape."
Battocletti completed the double by winning a tactical women's 1500-meter race in 4:17.29. The Olympic 10000m silver medallist repeated the same double she had already achieved in Caorle last year Laura Pellicoro from Brianza, the indoor Italian 800-meter champion, placed second in 4:18.93, ahead of her fellow regional athletes Micol Majori (4:19.31) and Marta Zenoni (4:21.12).
Men's 5000 Meters
Italian 1500m record holder Pietro Arese prevailed in the 5000 meters in 13:38.32. Arese completed the double by winning the men’s 1500m in 3:58.16 holding off Joao Bussotti (3:58.23) in a tactical race. Arese has become the third Italian athlete in history to achieve the 1500m-5000m double in the same edition of the Italian Championships after 1932 Olympic 1500m Olympic champion Luigi Beccali and Gianfranc Baraldi.
Wome’s 800m:
Eloisa Coiro won the women's 800-meter final in 2:00.70, securing her fifth outdoor title at this distance following her second-place finish in Caorle 2025 and her 400-meter victory at the Indoor Championships in Ancona last March.
Women's 10000 meters race walk:
Alexandrina Mihai dominated the 10 km race walk, setting a personal best of 44:29 in the 10000m race. Mihai received the Award dedicated to the memory of the great Sicilian race walker Anna Rita Sidoti, the unforgettable European champion in Split 1990 and world champion in Athens 1997 in the 10 km event.
Men's 10km Race Walk
Riccardo Orsoni claimed the 10km race walk in an excellent 39:40 during a hot afternoon in Florence.
Orsoni has become a first-time father to Sienna on June 13th. His partner is the Spanish race walker Cristina Montesinos.
Riccardo Orsoni: "I dedicate this victory to my daughter. I am satisfied with my second Italian title this year. This race was a fundamental test ahead of the European Championships, where I will compete in the race walk marathon."
