Bronze for Nashik teen at national meet

NASHIK: Long distance runner Monika Athre won the bronze medal in the 10 km race at the 52nd Senior National Athletic competitions being held in Chennai.
The 19-year-old LIC employee was close to winning the gold until the last 200m when the another athlete L Surya (35.18.20) and Asian gold medalist Preeja Shreedharan (35.19.40) overtook her in a last ditch sprint.
According toAthre's coach Veejendra Singh, "Monika valiantly tried to catch up with them but missed by a whisker. But I am proud of her performance. She did her best in a fierce competition."
Athre while surpassing her earlier timing clocked 35hours 25 mins and 50 seconds to clinch the third spot. The sure medal prospect Kavita Raut, however, could not participate due to stomach infection. These are the only two athletes from Nashik who qualified for the senior nationals.