Extraordinary triumph for Kelly Douala to the European Under 18 Championships Of Rieti. The Italian dominated the 100 meters, stopping the clock in 11.14 (+0.6), improving her European record in the category. This was seven hundredths of a second off the U18 continental record and the U20 Italian record set last season at the Eyof in Skopje, her second European title after the U20 title a year ago in Tampere. The 16-year-old from Lombardy won by a staggering 32 hundredths of a second over Greece's Apostolia Antonatou, who took silver in 11.46, while the bronze went to Britain's Celine Obinna-Alo in 11.50. Kelly Doualla is the second Italian ever, equaling the former record holder Manuela Levorato. The Cus Pro Patria Milano athlete, trained under coach Walter Monti, also becomes the seventh European Under-20 athlete ever. In Rieti it could also be used in the relay at increasing distances (100 – 200 – 300 – 400 metres).
“The goal was to be as carefree as possible,” Kelly Doualla told the official Fidal website – “I've learned this season that if I arrive feeling anxious, I can't do anything. So even during the warm-up, I was there listening to music and laughing with my coach. And then, being in Italy, I had even less pressure. It's a track I know, I wanted to come here and make a good impression. And that's what I did. I looked for my teammates in the stands: basically, it's like having run a 200m because they were on the other side of the stands, but I had to go and say hello to them and my family. The three rounds had been planned beforehand, and all the goals we set were achieved, easily. Getting to the final, getting a good lane, 5 being my favorite number. My opponents? All very strong. I arrived here without being the season's record holder. There was a bit of anxiety, but I knew my potential and I knew many of them from the EYOF. Nothing to say, very strong, very great. The 11.14? I hadn't noticed. I saw it as I left the track, I couldn't have asked for more. I thank the Rieti crowd: they were amazing, they experienced every single one of my races: the heats, the semifinals, the final, every single one of my races. You could feel the heat. I'll sing the Italian national anthem at the top of my lungs, how wonderful it will be there: it means I did what I had to do. And I hope the crowd will do the same with me."’
