European Athletics (EAA) – News – Lalli ready to do battle in the European Cup 10000m

Italy's Andrea Lalli is among the first of Europe’s top distance runners to commit to running at this year’s European Cup 10000m, the 15th edition of the event.

The 2011 European Cup 10000m will be held in the Norwegian capital Oslo on 4 June.

The former SPAR European Cross Country Championships junior and under 23 winner, taking the titles in 2006 and 2008 respectively, has been gradually making his mark in the senior ranks during the last 18 months.

The 23-year-old runner finished sixth in the 2010 SPAR European Cross Country Championships last December and he made an impressive debut over the half marathon distance on Sunday, at the famous Stramilano event, clocking an impressive to 62:32 to finish seventh overall and be the first European home.

“I expected to run 63 minutes, so it was a good result for me. I had no experience at all over this distance, as I don’t run more than 20km in training,” said Lalli.

“I have trained very well in Kenya recently with a group of Kenyan runners and this gave me a great motivation.

"My goal now is to qualify for the 10000 metres at this summer’s World Championships (in Daegu, South Korea). I will pursue the qualifying standard for Daegu at the European Cup 10000m in Oslo,” confirmed Lalli, after his run in Milan.

Lalli finished a slightly disappointed seventh over 25 laps of the track at last summer’s European Athletics Championships, crossing the line in 29:05.20, nearly a minute outside his best of 28:17.64, which he set in April last year.

In Oslo, he has the clear objective of going under 28 minutes for the first time, a mark only two European runners – the British pair of Mo Farah and Chris Thompson – achieved last year.

Last year’s Cup, which was held in the French city of Arles, saw two outstanding races which the Oslo organisers are hoping will be emulated.

Farah, the 5000m and 10000m double gold medallist at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, advertised he was in great form ahead of Barcelona when he won in 27:28.86, which was to remain the fastest time by a European runner in 2010.

Portugal’s Iñes Monteiro won the women’s Cup race for the second year running in 2010 when she ran a personal best of 31:13.58, the second best European time of the year and only bettered by the time of 31:10.23 which Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse produced to win at the European Athletics Championships.

European Athletics (EAA) – News