Athletics: Youth Grand Prix victories distributed fairly

The Youth Grand Prix is a successful model for promoting young talent in the South Tyrolean regional association. The winner is not whoever runs the fastest or jumps the furthest in one discipline, but whoever is strongest in three disciplines, e.g. 80 m running, high jump and javelin throwing. After five qualifying competitions, the best 20 in the U16 and U14 age groups qualified for the final in Merano.

In the under-16 category, Elena Cortoni succeeded Lisa Seppi. The woman from Val Gardena came to the final as the leader. With victories over 80 m and in the javelin throw as well as third place in the high jump, she clearly won ahead of Martina Gatscher from SV Lana) and Veronika Bonani from SC Meran. In the boys' category, Raffaele Fusaro (CSS da Vinci) fought his way from third place to the top. Fusaro didn't manage to win the day, but the man from Bolzano was equally strong in all disciplines. However, Fusaro benefited from the injury to the superior overall leader Markus Puff. The Lananer was injured during the triple jump at the Grand Prix in Brixen a week ago. Puff still went to the final and, thanks to a single throw in the javelin, secured third place overall behind Fusaro and Alex Baù (SG Eisacktal). Franziska Kofler (SV Lana) achieved the best individual performance of the day with 1.58 m in the high jump.

In the under 14 age group, the overall leaders were able to maintain their top position. Sophie Mayr (SSV Bruneck), daughter of the former all-around athlete Ruth Mayr, came 1st (shot put), 2nd (long jump) and 3rd (60 m) in the final. She won the Grand Prix with a record lead over Isabel Sader and Sara Ellemunt (both SG Eisacktal). Andreas Fuchsberger (SV Lana) even won the boys' competition with a cast on his right arm. The left-hander won the 60 m and long jump and took third place in the shot put. Fuchsberger thus asserted his supremacy in South Tyrol ahead of Denis Cunial (SA Bolzano) and Nicolò Fusaro (CSS da Vinci).

The final of the Grand Prix was also a dress rehearsal for the under-16s for the U16 Italian Championships next weekend in Jesolo. State coach Karl Schöpf can rely on a balanced selection. Sprinter Julia Calliari stands out from this. The 16-year-old, who decided not to compete today, will be the defending champion over 80 m.

Grand Prix final standings: U16, girls: 1. Elena Cortoni (Atl. Gherdeina) 8811; 2. Martina Gatscher (SV Lana) 8318; 3. Veronika Bonani (SC Meran) 8070

U16, boys: 1. Raffaele Fusaro (CSS da Vinci) 7373; 2. Alex Baù (SG Eisacktal) 7237; 3. Markus Puff (SV Lana) 7100

U14, girls: 1. Sophie Mayr (SSV Bruneck) 9360; 2. Isabel Sader (SG Eisacktal) 7576; 3. Sara Ellemunt (SG Eisacktal) 7514

U14, boys: 1. Andreas Fuchsberger (SV Lana) 8100; 2. Denis Cunial (SA Bolzano) 7447; 3. Nicolò Fusaro (CSS da Vinci) 7239

The points count after the preliminary rounds, as well as the best run, the best jump and the best throw in the final

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Athletics: Youth Grand Prix victories distributed fairly

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