Battocletti scores a hat-trick in the historic road race, while Kejelca sets a record.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti and Ethiopia’s Yomif Keelcha won the 51st BOclassic in South Tyrol, Italy on Wednesday (December 31).
Kejelča broke the men’s 10km record in 27:42, while Battocletti extended his winning streak in Bolzano to three straight in the women’s 5km. More than 10,000 spectators celebrated the International Bolzano New Year’s Eve Run.
Kejelča arrived in Bolzano as a favorite and lived up to expectations. The 28-year-old from Ethiopia, who is not only a two-time world silver medalist in the 10,000m but also holds the half-marathon world record in 57:30, led the first five laps in a group that also included crowd favorite Yeman Crippa of Italy, last year’s winner Telahhimele Hakeopi and the course record holder. South Africa’s Shometon and Kenya’s Charles Rotich, as well as Belgium’s John Heymans.
Kejelcha paced the sixth lap. By the time he crossed the start and finish area for the seventh time, Bekele had already made it. But recently, Kejelca left again.
The African surpassed the record set by his Ethiopian compatriot Bekele by 17 seconds. Last year’s winner finished second in 27:47, which was also faster than his winning time in 2025. Trentino’s Kripa was third in Bolzano in a personal best of 27:57, also breaking the old record. Shometon finished fourth and Heymans finished fifth.
Double victory of the Italians in the women’s fight
In the elite women’s race, all eyes were on Battocletti. Unsurprisingly, the Italian was looking for a third straight victory in her ‘home race’.
The 10,000m silver and bronze medalist at the World Championships in Tokyo in September took the first two laps relatively easy, running in a large group, but the Prison Police Sports Team athlete showed her qualities in the second half of the race. In the end, Battocletti clocked 15:51 for his third BOclassic win.
The battle for the remaining two podium positions was even more exciting, with a group of four contenders still in contention after the penultimate lap. Federica Del Buono was the second Azzurra to finish on the podium, a rarity in the BOclassic’s 50 years, in 16:04.
The podium was completed by the talented 21-year-old Xanet Alem from Ethiopia.
Kari Hughes of Wales finished fourth in 16:06, while Valentina Gemetto improved two spots from last year to finish fifth.
