Coach La Torre has issued the call-ups for the continental competition on 10 December
They will be Yemaneberhan Crippa and Nadia Battocletti the two spearheads of the blue team at the European Cross Country Championships 2023 scheduled to Brussels next December 10th. Yesterday, Wednesday 29 November, the coach Antonio La Torre has made official the list of 42 athletes called up for this trip with absolute, under 23 and junior men’s and women’s teams composed of 6 elements. In addition to the four athletes for the mixed relay and two reserves available. In the two senior absolute teams, the names of Yemaneberhan Crippa and Nadia Battocletti stand out, the two Italian leaders of the extended middle distance.
European Cross Brussels 2023: the blue men’s team
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Crippa appears capable of playing a leading role after a tough month of altitude training in Kenya. In his last two appearances at the Eurocross the blue cross-country skier had arrived second in 2019 and fourth in 2022 at the Mandria. The minimum objective for him will be to get on the podium given that the phenomenal Norwegian will be absent Jakob Ingebrigtsen, undefeated in European cross in all categories since he was a student. Like Crippa, the Italian team can also aim high with the presence of Iliass Aouanithe Italian marathon record holder, fresh off a great race in New York, and the Apulian Pasquale Selvarolo, who, after the excellent 1h00.33 in the half marathon in Ravenna, then put Crippa himself to the test in the recent cross of the Mandria di Venaria Reale. The young man completes the blue team Luca Alfieria great cross specialist as well as the Piedmontese Italo Quazzola, returned to good levels after a long injury. With them Yassin Bouihdecisive in 2022 in the victorious mixed relay race, but who this year deserved the call-up on the long cross.
Eurocross Brussels 2023: the women’s blue team
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Graduation exam for Nadia Battocletti making her debut in the absolute category after the poker of victories between the juniors and the under 23s. The Italian is reported to be in great form after the excellent third place last Sunday at the international cross in Alcobendas, on the outskirts of Madrid, finishing behind of the Ethiopians Likina Amebaw and Asayech Ayichew. Alongside her, the other two best Italians are the Piedmontese Anna Arnaudofifth in Alcobendas in the same race as Battocletti, and his fellow countryman Valentina Gemetto, which this season has really made a big leap in quality, ranging from 1500 to 10,000 metres. One step below these three athletes complete the Italian team from Vicenza Rebecca Lonedothe Piedmontese Elisa Palmero and the Brescia one Federica Zanne.
Mixed relay
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Half of the composition of the 2022 European champion mixed relay at the Cross della Mandria has been revolutionised. The Piedmontese remains in the team Pietro Aresefirst competitor last year, and the Abruzzese Gaia Sabbatini, last fractionist in 2022 and decisive in bringing Italy to success with its sensational final comeback. However, the aforementioned Yassin Bouih leaves the starting lineup, moved to the long cross, excellent third player last year, replaced by Ossama Meslek, the Italian number two in the 1500 meters after Pietro Arese. The big news, however, is the replacement of the second fraction member Federica Del Buono, who did not participate in the cross-country activity, with Marta Zenoni. The latter is pure talent, with countless Italian titles and national records achieved in all categories and also with international medals in the 800 and 1500 metres. A few years ago the athlete, born in Bergamo, moved to Rome, where she studies and competes for the prestigious Luiss university. She returned to a good level in 2022, she had then lost nine months of training for an operation on both Achilles tendons. She returned to the competition last Sunday in Trieste, she defeated all her opponents in the competition on the short cross, forcefully winning a starting jersey in the mixed blue relay. Athletic Radio reports that in her reconstruction there was also the technical support of Sandro Donati. The Roman coach always at the forefront in the battle against doping, also coach of Alex Schwazer.
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