Ilona Mononen ran for silver and Nathalie Blomqvist for bronze at the cross-country European Championships. Mononen and Blomqvist competed in the under-23 women’s competition.
Matti Lehtisaari,
Petra Manner
Finland had a great day with two medals at the cross-country European Championships in Brussels. Ilona Mononen ran for silver and Nathalie Blomqvist won bronze in the under-23 women’s 7 km distance.
Briton Megan Keith ran to an overwhelming championship. Mononen was one minute and 23 seconds behind the winner. Blomqvist beat Monose by 11 seconds.
19-year-old Mononen celebrated the cross-country EC race medal already a year ago, when he won bronze in the under-20 category.
This was the first time that Finns achieved two medals in the same competition in cross-country World Championships or European Championships. Mononen emphasized that the success together with Blomqvist particularly warmed him.
– This feels dozens of times better when Nathalie (Blomqvist) also made it to the medal ball with me. We were roommates here and we were joking with each other, that made it more special, Mononen told Urheilu.
Mononen knew how to expect Megan Keith to be in unbeatable shape.
– It pretty much went according to plan. I knew Megan (Keith) would be really tough on a course like that. I started running specifically for the silver medal, Mononen said.
Heavy skies on a muddy race track
The EC medals were fought for on a heavy and muddy route.
– The track was absolutely impossible. My spikes sank several times up to my ankles, and both shoes were covered in mud. Especially as the race progressed, the leg got on the rail. Every step had to be taken carefully to stay upright, Mononen said.
Mononen regrets that cross-country running is not highly valued in Finland.
– There hasn’t been a terribly strong off-road culture in Finland, but I bet that we strengthened it today with Nathalie. This should be appreciated more, this means a lot to me, Mononen said.
Nathalie Blomqvist also emphasized that getting to the medals together with Mononen tasted especially sweet.
– It was really exciting. I only realized after I finished that it was a joke we did this. It was extra special that we did this together, Blomqvist said.
– I was confident at the starting line, but I couldn’t imagine something like this. Cross-country running is always mysterious, this was a big surprise, Blomqvist admitted.
Finland Mustafa Muuse was ninth in the under-23 men’s competition and Santtu Heikkinen 11:s. Britain’s Will Barnicoat won the men’s race. Muuse was 33 seconds behind the winner and Heikkinen 36 seconds behind.
French Yann Schrub took the men’s European championship and Norway Karoline Bjerkeli Grövdal women’s championship. Finland’s only representative Susanna Saapunki ranked 42nd.