Nadia Battocletti won her sixth consecutive Italian title at the national cross country festival in Sicily timed at 27.31 over 8k.
The 5k European record holder and two-time European champion sat within the leading group for most of the race, nestled within the pack.
But with just one lap of the course remaining, her cap came off and it was time to go. Battocletti eased past Elvanie Nimbona and took the lead.
She steadily built a comfortable lead as she strode through the course, lapping other competitors on her way to the finish line.
"I had so much fun," Battocletti said after her race while admiring the fans waiting to take photos with her.
"The landscape is magical and I never want to stop admiring these wonders. For me, the Cross Country Festival is like being a child again.
“I always want to be here and see the enthusiasm of so many boys and girls."
It was another 27 seconds until the next competitor, Nimbona, crossed the line with Nicole Reina in third after another 22 seconds.
Battocletti has won this title every year since 2022, where she ran 19:06 over 6km and has dominated the event since.
But her first win at this event came in 2014 as a cadet, setting the standard for her own talented future.
She is also believed to be targeting the Kujawy Pomorze 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships having raced in both the 1500m and 3000m indoors already this season.