Battocletti and Ndikumwenayo Triumph at European Cross-Country Championships in Lagoa
The European Cross-Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, witnessed some thrilling performances as athletes from across the continent battled it out for the top spots. Nadia Battocletti, the world and Olympic medallist from Italy, successfully defended her title in the senior women’s race, while Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo clinched the men’s title in a nail-biting finish.
The women's race started with a lead pack of three athletes, including Battocletti, Turkey's Yasemin Can, and Great Britain's Megan Keith. The trio stayed together for much of the race, but with about 18 minutes on the clock, Battocletti began to pull ahead. As the Italian surged forward, she opened up a significant gap, ultimately crossing the finish line in 24:52 to claim victory. Keith, who had managed to break away from Can, finished second in 25:07, while Can secured third place in 25:13.
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The men’s race was equally exciting, with a close battle for the top spot. After about eight minutes of running, France’s Jimmy Gressier moved to the front alongside Ndikumwenayo, the bronze medallist from the previous year’s championship. Together, they built a nine-second lead over the rest of the field after 5km. Over the final kilometre, the two men exchanged positions several times, with both pushing the pace to the limit. As they approached the last bend, Gressier lost his footing slightly, allowing Ndikumwenayo to take the lead and finish strong, claiming the gold in 22:05. Gressier took silver in 22:08, while Dominic Lobalu of Switzerland secured bronze in 22:23.
In the U20 women’s race, Great Britain's Innes Fitzgerald triumphed, winning her third consecutive title with an impressive performance. She crossed the finish line in 14:35, 32 seconds ahead of her closest rival, Lucie Paturel from France. The U20 men’s race was much tighter, with Belgium’s Willem Renders edging out Spain’s Oscar Gaitan by just one second, finishing in 13:11 compared to Gaitan’s 13:12.
Spain also saw success in the U23 races, with Maria Forero claiming the women’s title and Nick Griggs of Ireland winning the men’s title. The mixed relay event saw Italy come out on top, taking the gold, with Portugal finishing second and Great Britain & Northern Ireland securing the bronze.
The championships in Lagoa showcased not only the depth of talent across Europe but also the intense competition that defined the event, as athletes left it all on the course in pursuit of European glory.
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