Ilona Mononen finished third in cross-country running in the under-20 category of the European Championships. The medal is Finland’s first in 20 years.
11:30•Updated 11:37
Finland Ilona Mononen has achieved cross-country EC bronze in the under-20 category in Turin. Mitali is Finland’s second medal in the under-20 women’s category. Elina Lindgren reached silver 20 years ago.
The four-kilometer race was won by Spain Maria Foreno before Norway Ingeborg Ostgård. Mononen lost to the winner by four seconds. Mononen was already fourth last year.
Mononen, who turns 19 in a week, is one of the most promising Finnish endurance runners at the moment. In the summer of 2021, he won the European youth championship in the smooth 3,000 meters. At the club level, the runner representing Lahten Ahkera is coached Mikko Rajaniemi.
The first EC terrains were organized 28 years ago. Annemari Sandell is the only Finnish runner who has reached a medal in the general category. He achieved no less than three medal positions. He won gold in December 1995.
In the under-20 men’s series Turo Inkiläinen reached bronze in 1999.