Nadia Battocletti won her first ever medal at the World Athletics Championships, with a brilliant run to win silver in the women’s 10,000m behind world record holder Beatrice Chebet in a repeat of the 1-2 from last year’s Paris Olympics.
Italian Battocletti, who has enjoyed a brilliant 15 months, winning European titles on the track (10,000m/5000m), road (10km) and cross country proved again what a brilliant championship runner she is.
She pressed Chebet every inch of the way and set a new Italian national record of 30:38.23, a mere 0.62 adrift of the Ethiopian.
Searing finish
There was a modest early pace, but Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich turned up the heat with at around 6km and left with six in the lead pack. With 4km to go the lead pack was five and with 1km left, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay surged to leave it to a lead group of four; Chebet, Battocletti, Tsegay and Ngetich.
The pace wound up and with 200 metres to go, Chebet took off and Battocletti followed her. It briefly looked like the Italian might challenge for gold, but Chebet held her form and Battocletti settled for a brilliant silver. Tsegay won bronze in 30:39.65.
The last kilometre was covered in 2:38 and the last lap in 60 seconds.
"Really big"
"I am starting to like silver medals," said Battocletti afterwards. "This year was tough, after the Olympic Games last year, but I knew that I was ready to run fast. It's really big for a European girl to win a medal at this event with all the African runners.
"In the last lap I realised I was a bit too far away from the leading athlete. I wanted to go faster over the last 300 metres. Unfortunately, I missed a moment for the gold but I am proud. I have an amazing support system all around me. From my family, my boyfriend, my coach, my mental coach, my physio and my doctors. I am lucky that my family was here with me today."