Battocletti and Ndikumwenayo Triumph at European Cross-Country Championships in Lagoa
Nadia Battocletti and Thierry Ndikumwenayo emerged victorious at the European Cross-Country Championships held in Lagoa on November 14. Battocletti successfully defended her title in the women’s race, while Ndikumwenayo claimed the men’s title in an exciting finish.
Battocletti’s Dominant Performance
Italian athlete Nadia Battocletti showcased her exceptional talent in the women’s race. A lead group formed early on, including Battocletti, Yasemin Can from Turkey, and Britain’s Megan Keith. Approximately 18 minutes into the race, Battocletti created a significant gap, finishing with a time of 24:52.
- Gold Medalist: Nadia Battocletti – 24:52
- Silver Medalist: Megan Keith – 25:07
- Bronze Medalist: Yasemin Can – 25:13
Thrilling Men’s Race
The men’s race proved to be a nail-biter. Jimmy Gressier, last year’s world 10,000m champion, pushed the pace early, alongside Thierry Ndikumwenayo, who secured bronze in the previous year’s championships. After 5 kilometers, they maintained a nine-second lead over Dominic Lobalu.
As the race neared its conclusion, both Gressier and Ndikumwenayo exchanged leads multiple times. However, Gressier slipped on the final bend, allowing Ndikumwenayo to seize victory in 22:05.
- Gold Medalist: Thierry Ndikumwenayo – 22:05
- Silver Medalist: Jimmy Gressier – 22:08
- Bronze Medalist: Dominic Lobalu – 22:23
U20 and U23 Categories
In the U20 women’s category, Innes Fitzgerald continued her winning streak, claiming her third successive title with a remarkable time of 14:35. She finished 32 seconds ahead of her closest competitor, Lucie Paturel from France.
- U20 Women’s Champion: Innes Fitzgerald – 14:35
- Runner-up: Lucie Paturel
The U20 men’s title was fiercely contested, with Belgium’s Willem Renders narrowly defeating Spain’s Oscar Gaitan, finishing in 13:11 to Gaitan’s 13:12.
Other Notable Results
In the U23 divisions, Spain’s Maria Forero emerged victorious in the women’s race, while Ireland’s Nick Griggs took the men’s title. The mixed relay event concluded with Italy securing first place, followed by Portugal and Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
Summary of Results
| Category | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Women’s | Nadia Battocletti | Megan Keith | Yasemin Can |
| Senior Men’s | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | Jimmy Gressier | Dominic Lobalu |
| U20 Women’s | Innes Fitzgerald | Lucie Paturel | |
| U20 Men’s | Willem Renders | Oscar Gaitan | |
| U23 Women’s | Maria Forero | ||
| U23 Men’s | Nick Griggs |
The European Cross-Country Championships in Lagoa highlighted the talents of these athletes, promising exciting futures in the sport.
