The Campaccio cross-country event has been contested since 1957 ©World Athletics

The Campaccio cross country meet in San Giorgio su Legnano has been awarded the World Athletics Heritage Plaque.

First contested in 1957, Campaccio has built a strong reputation that sees it welcome many of the world's greatest names in distance running.

World cross country gold medallist Hellen Obiri and marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, both Kenyan, are among the illustrious athletes who have competed at the Italian race.

"Campaccio, which is one of the oldest races of the international cross country running calendar, greatly deserves this heritage distinction," said Italy's World Athletics Council Member Anna Riccardi.

"The small-town venue of San Giorgio su Legnano, and the race organisers, the Union Sportiva Sangiorgese, have successfully nurtured this special event for more than six decades.

"From Italy's two-time world cross country champion Paola Pigni-Cacchi, who sadly passed away in 2021, to the five-time world cross winners Grete Waitz and Paul Tergat, and six-time long-course world champion Kenenisa Bekele, Campaccio has always attracted the world's best runners and has played a central role in Italy's proud distance running tradition."

Kenyan marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is one of several high-profile athletes to have competed in the Campaccio event ©Getty Images
Kenyan marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is one of several high-profile athletes to have competed in the Campaccio event ©Getty Images

The plaque is awarded for "an outstanding contribution to the worldwide history and development of the sport of track and field athletics and of out-of-stadia athletics disciplines such as cross country, mountain, road, trail, and ultra-running."

It is a location-based recognition which aims to celebrate iconic and historic athletics competitions, careers, performances, cities, and venues around the world.

"The whole family of San Giorgio su Legnano is honoured and humbled," Union Sportiva Sangiorgese President Tito Tiberti said.

"We have reached a few significant milestones in the history of the Campaccio cross country and Unione Sportiva Sangiorgese - our very first edition back in 1957, our first women’s race in 1970, our National Olympic Committee Gold Star for sport merit acknowledgement in 1987, and the organisation of the European Cross Country Championships in 2006.

"The award of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque marks a new milestone for our organisation, which celebrates a marriage between a world class competition, an inclusive event for everyone and a small step towards environmental sustainability.

"It's rewarding and inspiring at the same time."