(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 17 - Nadia Battocletti's season in cross country opened Sunday with third place at the Cinque Mulini race near Milan behind and Ethiopian and a Kenyan.
    The Italian, Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 metres in Paris, brought an Italian back to the podium nine years after the last time in the great classic of San Vittore Olona, edition number 92, amid applause from the crowd.
    Ethiopian Yenenesh Shimket won ahead of Kenyan Sheila Jebet.
    For the 24-year-old from Trentino, two-time continental track champion (5000 and 10,000) in Rome 2024, it was the first outing in the path towards the European Cross-Country Championships on December 8 in Antalya, Turkey, where she will aim high again twelve months after her silver in Brussels, awaiting next Sunday's challenge in the Spanish race in Alcobendas.
    "I had a lot of fun," said Italy's new long-distance poster girl, "and I wanted to dare at the start, but my opponents were more experienced.
    "It is a test that was needed to remove some rust from the engine, I gave 100 percent.
    "The new season starts from here with the aim of showing up at the Eurocross as prepared as possible and in a calm manner".
    (ANSA).