Nadia Battocletti, historic success for a dream start to 2025

Historic success for Nadia Battocletti

Thirty-one years after the last time, the Campaccio cross-country race rediscovers an Italian athlete in front of everyone at the finish line: è Nadia Battocletti to break the long fast, imposing herself in the cross-country race held on Epiphany day in San Giorgio su Legnano, the historic home of the race now in its 68th edition.

Already a favorite on the eve of the race, Battocletti (silver medalist in Paris 2024 in the 10,000, on track) proved she could handle the pressure of such an important race without any particular problems, finishing the 6-kilometer course with a time of 21'14" and a rather high gap already over the second-place finisher, compatriot Elisa Palmero, who crossed the finish line 44" behind. Closing the podium was Finland’s Susanna Saapunki, who finished 52" from the winner.

The last Italian to dominate at Campaccio before today was Silvia Sommaggio, in 1994, with a time of 22'41". Since then, no representative of the Tricolor, neither at the men's nor at the women's level, had succeeded in the feat of reaching the finish line ahead of all opponents.

Instead, the men's race was won by Ethiopian Telahun Bekele, who finished the 10-kilometer race in 31'32", ahead of Burundian Celestin Ndikumana and Ugandan Oscar Chelimo. Success among the men has been missing for Italy since 1993, when Francesco Panetta asserted himself for the fifth time after victories in the 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990 editions.