Battocletti Defends 10,000m Title, Seals Double-Double

Nadia Battocletti defended her European 10,000m title at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, finishing a cagey 25-lap race in 31:41.18. The win completed a historic distance double for a second straight championships.

A patient race, a brutal finish

The field moved slowly early on as Battocletti stayed tucked behind the pacesetters. With seven laps to go, Britain's Megan Keith surged and broke the pack apart.

The leaders reached the bell together. Battocletti waited for the final bend, then covered the last 200 metres in a sharp 28.2 seconds to leave her rivals behind.

Four golds, one landmark

Maureen Koster of the Netherlands took silver in 31:45.65, her first major medal in eleven years. Belgium's Jana Van Lent followed in 31:47.81 for a first senior bronze.

The victory arrived four days after Battocletti kept her 5000m crown. She became the first athlete to sweep both distance titles at two straight European Championships.

"The race went just as my dad had imagined in terms of pace," she said. "The secret to a 10,000 is patience; you must never let yourself get flustered and just let things run their course."

She now holds European titles on the track, the road and across the country at the same time. In Birmingham, she ran the race her father drew up and let the history write itself.