Battocletti Thrills Crowd with Another Win

By mitchpa on December 15, 2022 • ( 0 )

By Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

Turin, Italy, December 11, 2022, SPAR Euro Cross-Country Championships, (U23, 5.772 KM) Piermonte La Mandria Park—Nadia Battocletti of Italy had the pressures of being the defending champion in the U23 race, and running in front of thousands of passionate fans at La Mandria Park. Nadia was uncertain on her fitness after a rough bout with illnesses in the months prior to the race.

Battocletti erased anyone’s doubts, perhaps even her own, as she ran a calculated steady race and opened a big lead to enjoy the finish with a thirteen second margin of victory in 19:55.

Megan Keith was second in 20:08, Alexandra Millard was third in 20:27, and Grace Carson was fifth in 20:35 to lead Great Britain & Northern Ireland to the team gold.

Amina Maatoug of Netherlands was fourth in 20:33. Manon Trapp of France was sixth in 20:42, as she led France to the team bronze.

Flash interviews courtesy of the event

Nadia Battocletti, ITA, Gold 19:55

“This race was very special. I knew that I am supposed to bring home a medal, but this season was not easy at all. I was fighting with some viruses, had mononucleosis, and in spring, I was injured. Not the best start at all. But that makes this victory even more special, it has another taste. I really wanted this title. My dad, who is also my coach told me to speed up in the last lap, but I think Megan had the same plan and she did not make it easy for me today. It is great to defend the title and to add another gold. But I think the toughest was my first U20 medal, when I started as unknown athlete – I had to compete with European medalists, big names… and nobody knew me. Also, the race in Dublin was very difficult because of the course and the weather. I think I only ran with 70-80 percent there. But this gold today has a special taste… to win on the home soil and to please all our fans. Even if I did not feel in full power, the support of the family and crowd gave me the power to win and maybe that was the reason it was not as painful as in the past. I am also very happy for the mixed relay and I think I will join them to celebrate the medal today.”

Megan Keith, GBR, Silver, 20:08

“I feel stronger than last year, and I am happy with the way that I handled the 6K. Obviously, Nadia is phenomenal. I knew her move was going to come, and probably I wouldn’t be able to go with her in the end – but I wanted to hang in there for as long as I could, and I am proud of the way that I raced today – I am really happy. Winning wasn’t really the plan this year – unless Nadia something bad happened to her – she was always going to be the favourite. My expectations were not at that level. To finish coming second was the best I could do today and on a great day, so I am really happy that I managed to fulfil my goal. It is amazing, and I always do my best not to leave the team behind me, but I can’t really do anything to change what is happening behind me. I kind of was aware that when Nadia and I went away, I knew the Irish girl was in third, but to turn around in third place, and Grace in fourth it was absolutely insane – they absolutely killed it. I hope so, with the score that we had out of ten, if anyone beat us, they absolutely deserve to get that team gold.”

Alexandra Millard, GBR, Bronze, 20:27

“I am bit a confused… but about this race… we came out here yesterday and it was quite foggy and freezing, but this is a different place today. It is lovely in the sun; the sun really changes everything really, there was a great vibe. It was such a fun course – I was kind of dreading it, but I really enjoyed it. Running through the building was really cool, but also really hot. It was a great day, I had a lot fun, really enjoyed it. I don’t know, I haven’t felt like that in ages really. We started running the 6K, then up to 7.2 and up to an 8K, so this one came down again to 6K – maybe I was prepared for the longest. This felt like, not easier, but it wasn’t just as long, and I like the hills, so it was good.”

Top Finishers