After winning the long cross races of Couëron and La Chapelle-sur-Erdre at the end of 2024, Julie Lerat finished second in the Loire-Atlantique short cross championships last Sunday in Vertou. Behind Lomane Mesnil, his club partner, the representative of Nantes Métropole Athlétisme was not in the best mood.
She hopes to best defend her chances this Sunday in Guémené-Penfao (11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) during the departmental long cross championships where 709 athletes are expected at the Bellevue stadium site. “It wasn't a very enjoyable race at Vertou, I suspected that a little considering my form this weekshe explains. I had some professional imperatives which caused fatigue. It should be better on Sunday in Guéméné. »
“It would be great to get a podium”
Where in 2018, she was crowned senior champion of an elite race won by Mélanie Le Goff (masters category). Titled and first in the elite race in 2016 in Pornic, the member of the Herbauges Athlé 44 section will therefore try, at 33, to win a third senior title. “It’s a course that I like. I hope to have more fun than at Vertou. I juiced this week to recover well. There will be a nice density. It would be great to get a podium. »
-The competition promises to be up to par with the Carquefoliennes Marie Morineau, 3e over the last three years, and Noémie Leduc, as well as Élodie Franchomme-Sinclair (AC Littoral 44), outgoing senior champion. “The season is off to a good start but we will have to digest the sequence of departmentals and regionals (Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre in Vendée on January 26). »
With four to five outings per week, including at least one with the group coached by Jan-Willem Stam, Julie Lerat feels ready to continue until the French championships in Challans on March 2.
