Luxembourg's Patrizia Van der Weken on Wednesday began her outdoor athletics season with a strong performance in Savona, Italy, securing third place in the 100 metres final and recording a time of 11.18 seconds. The race marked her first outdoor outing of the year following an intensive preparation phase that included training camps both abroad and in Luxembourg.
The meeting featured an elite field, including Italy's Zaynab Dosso, the reigning world indoor champion, whose personal best is just two hundredths of a second slower than Van der Weken's. Britain's Imani Lansiquot also competed, ultimately finishing second.
Heats were held on the stadium's track opposite the main stand, offering optimal wind conditions for athletes but fewer amenities for spectators, as there is no seating on that side. Van der Weken competed in the opening heat alongside Dosso, finishing just behind the world champion and matching Hungary's Takacs with a time of 11.28 seconds to secure her place in the final.
The Savona stadium is notable for its two 100-metre tracks running in opposite directions, enabling organisers to select the most favourable lane based on wind direction and strength. This unique feature aims to provide ideal conditions for athletes during their sprints.
In the evening final, Dosso confirmed her status as favourite by winning in 11.07 seconds. Van der Weken took third place, just behind Lansiquot.
The result provides a promising start to Van der Weken's outdoor campaign, raising expectations for her performances in the coming months.
