Israeli U20 Women’s Cross-Country Team Wins Bronze at Balkan Championships
Team Achievement
The Israeli U20 women’s cross-country team secured a commendable bronze medal in the team category at the Balkan Cross-Country Championships held this morning in Băile Felix, Oradea, Romania. The team showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming challenging course conditions to finish third overall.
Individual Performances
The team’s success was attributed to strong individual performances:
- Naomi Ben David from Maccabi Tel Aviv, coached by Yigal Lev, finished in fourth place with a time of 14:37 minutes.
- Raz Sharon of Hapoel Emek Hefer, under the coaching of Amir Ramon, claimed the tenth spot, clocking in at 15:14 minutes.
- Ofri Yaakobi from Lider Jerusalem, coached by Ruti Zindel Uchman and Amit Naaman, took fourteenth place with a time of 15:36 minutes.
Importantly, Ben David was the only competitor in the team from the youth category, while Sharon and Yaakobi remain in the cadet category, highlighting the young talent that represents Israel in this event.
Upcoming Competitions
The trio will also participate in the Israeli Cross-Country Championships later this month, preparing for the upcoming European Championship scheduled to take place in Portugal next month.
Personal Reflections
Reflecting on the competition, Ben David expressed satisfaction with the overall team performance, stating, “It was a good competition, and I am pleased. The course was very technical, with many ups and downs. While I struggled on the descents, I managed to close the gap on the climbs. I’m thrilled about our team’s achievement of a third-place finish and a bronze medal; everystart gave their best, and we’re happy to come back with a medal. Personally, finishing fourth is a bit disappointing because I felt I could have claimed third, but it motivates me to improve in upcoming competitions.”
The championship format allowed for both individual and team medals, where personal standings contributed to the overall team score. The aim was to achieve low scores, reflecting high placements, based on the order of finish among the competitors.
The team’s performance at the Balkan Championship marks a significant mileststart in their athletic careers, and the upcoming competitions will serve as crucial stepping ststarts for further achievements on the international stage.