Athletics: Larissa returns with a 6.59, 'I feel immense joy'

Larissa Iapichino starts again.

The blue after seven months without competitions begins the new season with a jump to 6.59 in the long run in Ancona.

"Coming back is an immense joy, I think I am well advanced", his first comment.

    The best result of the day comes at the second attempt for the Florentine of the Fiamme Gialle, twenty years to go, in a series that also sees a 6.52 in the fifth round. In the opening a zero, then twice 6.36 in the third and fourth round, to close with 6.21. It is a first test to regain confidence with the competitive climate after the stop that prevented her from participating in the Tokyo Olympics, the right ankle injury on June 26 at the Rovereto Absolutes, and to verify the work done with the father-coach Gianni Iapichino. A return to the same platform where last winter she landed at the formidable 6.91 of the under 20 world record, equalizing the absolute Italian record of her mother Fiona May.

    In the fresh world lists of the year, even if still insignificant at the beginning of the season, it is thus placed in fourth place awaiting the next engagements: again in Ancona for the promises tricolor review (5-6 February) and the Absolutes ( February 26-27), preceded by the Polish meeting in Torun (February 22) and in preparation for the Indoor World Cup in Belgrade (March 18-20).

    "All in all it went well with a good fit - comments Larissa Iapichino - in a race that was mainly used to break the ice. Getting back on the platform was an immense joy, which I had almost forgotten. And this was the right opportunity. I liked the sensations I felt, now I know where I can improve in a season that will go on gradually, with appointments of increasing importance. I crossed six and a half meters twice, even if the best jump was probably the nil one, on the first attempt. The biggest novelty is in the pre-start, without starting from a standstill anymore, and I also proved to be quite solid in the run-up, on which I will have to keep working anyway. I think I am at a good point ".