Countdown to the 93rd edition of Cinque Mills which will take place on Sunday November 23 in San Vittore Olona. And, as per tradition, it is a countdown that is enriched with big names day by day. Running on the lawns of one of the most famous fields in the world this year will be the world marathon bronze medalist and European champion, Iliass Aouani. For the Milanese Fiamme Azzurre, splendid protagonist on the streets of Louvain at continental level and then in Tokyo with the world championship podium, it will be the first competitive outing after the great joy experienced in Japan.

Aouani continues the great tradition of champions which, since 1933, has seen the greatest in cross-country athletics and not just cross-country compete in this quiet village on the Malpensa route. History has passed and continues to pass in these parts from the Sports Field in Via Roma, from the Cozzi and Meraviglia mills to the Chiapparini farm and the celebrated “Cross Stadium”. A route of almost three kilometers on which all the greatest have tried their hand. From Mario Fiocchi, the first winner to Alberto Cova, the last Italian who won in 1986. An infinite story that of the Cinque Mulini, the magic of a tradition that was not interrupted even during the Second World War and which did not give up even to Covid. The athletics that count have raced here, in a “cross country” that is worth a world championship: from Lasse Viren to Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe; from Said Aouita to Haile Gebreselassie to Brahim Boitayeb; from Gelindo Bordin to Alberto Cova, to Francesco Panetta, Franco Fava; from Paola Pigni to Gabriella Dorio and Stefano Baldini. Two years ago it was there at the start Yeman Crippa and last year Nadia Battocletti.

Iliass Aouani was born 30 years ago in Morocco he was discovered by Claudio Valisa. He grew up and lived with his family on the outskirts of Milan in Ponte Lambro. After high school he moved to Beaumont in Texas, to Lamar University with coach Tony Houchin, followed by another four years at Syracuse in New York where he graduated in civil engineering with a master’s degree in structural engineering. Returning to Italy, he was the first to win the overall Italian titles in cross country, the 10,000 on the track, the 10 km on the road and the half marathon in the same season. He is currently stationed in Ferrara and is coached by Massimo Magnani. Seven appearances in the blue shirt.

But not only Aouani. There will also be two other prominent Italians in the Cinque cast Mills, two reigning European cross-country champions. In the men’s race at the start Pietro Arese, twice gold medalist in the continental event thanks to the successes three years ago in Venaria Reale and last season in Antalya. The Fiamme Gialle from Turin, European bronze in the 1500 meters in Rome 2024, competed in the last edition of the Lombard classic where he placed fifteenth. Among the women at the start Marta Zenoni, the Bergamo player from Luiss, Italian record holder in the outdoor mile and the 1500 indoors.