Twice sixth place finisher at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, Sarah Lahti showed she is in solid shape ahead of this year’s event in Lagoa on 14 December with double victory at the Swedish Cross Country Championships in Lidingö this weekend (18-19).
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In Saturday’s women’s 4km race, the twice Olympic 10,000m finalist proved her class with a dominant run to claim her sixth national title in 13:09.
Behind her, Samrawit Mengsteab edged Julia Nielsen for silver after a sprint finish, with both clocking 13:28. In the men’s 4km, Oliver Löfqvist dived across the line to win his first Swedish title in 11:33, one second ahead of Karl Ottfalk and Axel Djurberg.
Another day another win for Lahti
In Sunday’s 10km race, Lahti was again unchallenged. She took command immediately and left the field behind, completing the course in 34:11 ahead Samrawit Mengsteab and Evelina Henriksson (34:38).
The men’s race was won by Tokyo Olympian Simon Sundström. The four-times national 3000m steeplechase champion won in 30:25, ahead of 4k champion Löfqvist (30:36) and Yohannes Kiflay (30:43).
Lahti, who was sixth at both Hyères 2015 and Antalya 2024, will look to contend once again at the Lagoa 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships on 14 December.