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Having posted a series of strong results earlier in the season, national athlete Elif Naz Koseoglu is now targeting this year's European Cross Country Championships in Serbia.
Koseoglu won a double Turkish championship title in January, taking gold in both the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters at the Under-20 Youth Indoor Turkish Championships held in Istanbul.
In February, the 19-year-old competed at the Open Meeting Sofia Indoor Athletics Competitions in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, winning gold in the 1,500 meters and silver in the 3,000 meters.
In May, Koseoglu finished third at the international XV ESET WMD-NIGHT Milano Race in Italy, improving her personal best in the 2,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 6 minutes, 38.01 seconds.
Also in May, she finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Next Generation Athletics Meeting Races in the Netherlands with a time of 10:24, a result that allowed her to meet the qualifying standard for the Under-20 World Championships.
The national athlete is continuing her training in hopes of reaching the podium at the European Cross Country Championships in the Serbian capital Belgrade on December 13.
Koseoglu stated that following her successes during the season, a long period of training awaits her ahead of upcoming competitions.
Regarding this year's European Cross Country Championships, to be held in the Serbian capital Belgrade on December 13, Koseoglu said: "I want to reach the podium there. But before that, there is a qualifying event for this championship. I will run a race in Adana on October 18 in order to be able to go to the Balkan Cross Country Championships.''
''If I am then selected for the team, I will represent my country at the Balkan Cross Country Championships in November. I want to compete at the Turkish Championships, be selected for the national team, and represent my country at the European Cross Country Championships." She added.
Koseoglu said she trains twice a day on three or four days of the week, noting that her total training distance reaches around 100 kilometers (62 miles) per month.
National team coach Bulent Uzun said that in addition to her Turkish championship titles, Koseoglu achieved successful results in international competitions during the first part of the season.
Noting that Koseoglu met the international qualifying standard for the World Championships but was unable to take part in the event due to quota criteria that were applied, Uzun emphasized that they are now focused on the future in line with their goals.
Stating that they closed out the season early and started preparations early as well, Uzun said they are in an intensive preparation process for Koseoglu to compete for the national team at the European and Balkan cross country championships at the end of this year.
Noting that the European Cross Country Championships qualifiers will be held in Istanbul in November, Uzun said that if selected for the national team, Koseoglu will represent Türkiye at the European Cross Country Championships on December 13.
Bulent Uzun pointed out that, given the national athlete's steadily improving form, she will compete for the podium and a medal in every race, adding that she will represent Türkiye in the best possible way.
Uzun also added that it would be a major achievement for Koseoglu to qualify for and compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
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