CAMPO MONTAGNA, LA SPEZIA, ITALY – For the second consecutive year West Texas A&M Track and Field alum Eleonora Curtabbi took first in the Italian Championship in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase. 
 
Curtabbi defended her title against the top 17 competitors that Italy has by running the event in 9 minutes, 57.5 seconds. According to World Athletics, which calculates world rankings for track and field, Curtabbi sits 80^th in the world in the event. 
 
The Olympic standard is 9 minutes, 23 seconds, and although Curtabbi is just shy of that number, fans will have to wait to see if she will represent team Italy at the Olympics. 
 
Upon graduation in the fall, Eleonora Curtabbi signed a professional running contract with Railroad Athletics.