Battocletti Shines with 3:58.16 at Palio della Quercia as Records Fall in Rovereto
The 61st edition of the Palio della Quercia in Rovereto delivered a thrilling night of athletics on Monday, June 2, highlighted by Nadia Battocletti’s stunning 1500m victory in 3:58.16—just 0.04 seconds shy of the Italian record. The Olympic silver medallist held off Australia’s Linden Hall in a dramatic finish, as the meet produced a wave of world-class performances across the track and field. Mohamed Attaoui broke the men’s 800m meeting record with 1:43.56, Zane Weir set a European outdoor lead in the shot put, and Eloisa Coiro powered to another sub-2-minute win in the 800m. From sprints to jumps and throws, the Rovereto crowd witnessed one of the meet’s most competitive editions in recent memory.
Women’s 1500 Metres
Nadia Battocletti thrilled the home crowd with a commanding win in the women’s 1500m, clocking 3:58.16 to miss Sintayehu Vissa’s Italian record by the slimmest of margins. The Trentino native edged out 2021 Olympic finalist Linden Hall of Australia, who ran a season’s best of 3:58.70. American Helen Schlachtenhaufen completed the podium in 4:00.69.
Battocletti: “It’s always nice to run on home soil. I will try to break the Italian record next time. I’ll do my best against Beatrice Chebet in Rome.”
Men’s 800 Metres
Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui stormed to victory in the men’s 800m, smashing the meeting record with a time of 1:43.56 in his first outdoor race of the season. He was followed closely by Frenchman Yanis Meziane in 1:43.93, with the USA’s Abraham Alvarado third in 1:44.53. European indoor champion Adrian Ben (1:44.74) and Italian hopefuls Francesco Pernici (1:44.59 PB, B race winner) and Federico Riva (1:44.80) also impressed with sub-1:45 performances.
Attaoui: “I’m happy with this performance. Running the 1500m helps me develop strength for the 800m.”
Men’s Shot Put
European indoor champion Zane Weir of Italy produced a standout mark in the shot put, launching the implement 21.84m in the third round—the best outdoor throw by a European this season. He narrowly missed his own meeting record by just four centimeters. Defending champion Roger Steen (USA) also excelled with a seasonal best of 21.77m and two more 21m+ attempts. Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi placed third with 21.62m, while Payton Otterdahl saw his win streak snapped with a 20.70m mark.
Weir: “I’m pleased with the result. My shape is improving steadily—I’ll be even better in five or six weeks.”
Women’s 800 Metres
Italy’s Eloisa Coiro, recently third on the all-time national list, returned to winning form with a 1:59.51 triumph. Coiro surged away from her competitors in the final straight, beating Switzerland’s Rachel Pellaud (2:00.21) and France’s Clara Liberman (2:00.28).
Coiro: “It was important to win today. My result in Rabat confirmed that training is working well.”
Men’s 5000 Metres
Kenya’s Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi took the men’s 5000m in 13:16.90, holding off Burundi’s Celestin Ndikumana, who clocked 13:18.26.
Men’s Triple Jump
Olympic bronze medallist and reigning European and World Indoor Champion Andy Diaz Hernandez opened with a winning leap of 17.04m before passing his remaining attempts. Germany’s Max Hess secured second with 16.88m in the sixth round, and Ethan Oliver (New Zealand) followed closely with 16.84m.
Men’s 400 Metres
Canadian record-holder Christopher Morales Williams claimed the men’s 400m in a seasonal best of 45.02, finishing ahead of Britain’s Samuel Reardon (45.12) and Belgium’s Jonathan Sacoor (45.48).
Women’s 100 Metres
Liberia’s Maia McCoy continued her strong season with an 11.18 (+0.6 m/s) victory in the women’s 100m. McCoy, runner-up in Rabat’s Diamond League, beat Kayla White (11.47) and Switzerland’s Salomé Kora (11.51).
Men’s 100 Metres
Gift Leotleta of South Africa surged to victory in the men’s 100m in 10.10, defeating USA’s Brandon Hicklin (10.15) and Britain’s Romell Glave (10.17), the 2022 European bronze medallist.
Women’s Pole Vault
Brazil’s Juliana de Menis Campos cleared 4.63m on her second attempt to win the women’s pole vault. Italy’s Elisa Molinarolo, an Olympic and World finalist, finished second with 4.46m, edging out Finland’s Elina Lampela and Greece’s Ariana Adamopoulou on countback.
Women’s Long Jump
Serbia’s Milica Gardasevic claimed top honors in the women’s long jump with a 6.72m leap in the final round. Bulgaria’s Plamena Mitkova, the 2022 World U20 champion, landed a 6.69m jump to finish second.
Men’s High Jump
Israel’s Yonathan Kapitolnik soared over 2.26m on his first attempt to win the men’s high jump. Italy’s Marco Fassinotti and Australia’s Yuol Reath tied for second with clearances at 2.23m.
Women’s 400 Metres Hurdles
Germany’s Elena Kelety clocked a season’s best 54.93 to win the women’s 400m hurdles. Britain’s Emily Newnham finished second in 55.43, followed by Italians Rebecca Sartori (55.74) and Alice Muraro (55.80).
Women’s 400 Metres
Italy’s Anna Polinari impressed with a new personal best of 51.43 to win the women’s 400m. Austria’s Susanne Gogl-Walli took second in 51.60, while Hungary’s Andrea Miklos came in third with 51.95.
Men’s 110 Metres Hurdles
Cuba’s Roger Iribarne edged out Austria’s Enzo Diessl in a tight men’s 110m hurdles final, clocking 13.49 to Diessl’s 13.52.
