With four national titles already to her name, Mariana Machado heads to Lagoa for next weekend’s (22-23) Portuguese Cross Country Championships in a confident frame of mind.
“It’s another championship I want to win,” she told the Portuguese Athletics Federation website. “There’s no pressure at all; the pressure is the one I put on myself. But it’s a healthy pressure-the kind that pushes you to win.”
An eye on European success
The Braga native arrives in Lagoa with more than national titles on her mind though. It will also be the test event at the same course that will host the SPAR European Cross Country Championships three weeks later.
The 25-year-old has significant pedigree at the event, having won bronze in the U23 race (Dublin 2021) and bronze in the U20 race (Lisbon 2019). As senior, she has also been close to the podium, placing 5th in Antalya 2024.
The national championships offer Machado and her Portuguese team-mates an opportunity to steal an advantage from their prospective rivals at the Lagoa 2025.
“It’s a demanding course,” she acknowledges, “but it’s demanding for everyone. We have to know how to take advantage of this-not only by racing the National Championship here, but also by doing training camps to prepare for the more technical aspects.”
"I feel ready"
Machado has made an encouraging start to her winter season in World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold events, placing 2nd in 71º Cross Internacional Zornotza and 7th at the XLIII Cross Internacional de Itálica against strong international fields.
“I feel ready. The preparation has been going well,” she said looking towards the first of two important competitions in Lagoa.
“We have to decide if it will be more relaxed or part of a week of intense training where I use the National Championship as preparation for the European Championship.”