Nick Griggs of Candour Athletic Club in Tyrone has won a superb silver for Ireland in the U23 race at Sunday morning’s European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Türkiye.
The nineteen-year-old, who earned bronze in last year’s under-20 race, made a decisive late surge to narrowly miss out on gold behind Will Barnicoat of Britain who successfully defended his title.
The Tyrone athlete defied fatigue over the closing stages to push Barnicoat all the way to the line, ultimately crossing in 18.28 behind the British athlete who clocked a winning time of 18.27. David Stone, also of Britain, rounded out the top three places to claim bronze in 18.31.
“Everyone wants to go out and win gold. I’m the nearly-man at these championships with two silvers and one bronze individually in the last three years, but I’m happy and I think it’s something I’ll appreciate as I get older,” said Griggs after the race.
“I love these championships and it’s a special one for me. I always like to step up and perform at my best when I have the Irish vest on. I knew it was a long home straight and not to make any moves too early, but the best man won on the day and one of these years I will win at these championships.”
Griggs, who missed out on this year’s U20 grade by just two weeks, will enjoy two more years running at U23. Today’s performance continued a remarkable period for Ireland at European Cross Country, making it the fifth consecutive medal-winning- championship since Lisbon in 2019.
Ireland finished fourth in the U23 team race with 54 points, 12 points behind bronze medallists Denmark.
Laura Mooney of Tullamore Harriers produced a huge performance in the women’s U23 race, finishing 7th overall. National champion Emma McEvoy also secured a top 20 finish in 13th place to help Ireland to a 5th placed team result.
The senior races were witness to another remarkable run from Niamh Allen of Leevale AC Athletics Club who finished 11th on her European Cross Country debut, three months on from giving birth to her daughter Lily.
She led home a senior women’s team who finished 10th overall with Cheryl Nolan the second Irish athlete across the finish in 57th, followed shortly after by national champion Ann-Marie McGlynn in 62nd.
The senior men’s team finished 8th in the team standings with Cormac Dalton leading the Irish team home for the second consecutive year in 21st, shortly followed by Efrem Gidey in 26th.
The women’s U20 team finished sixth overall with Anna Gardiner in 19th and Lucy Foster in 20th both securing top twenty finishes. The men’s U20 team finished 9th overall with UCD’s Lughaidh Mallon leading them home in 26th.
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Another medal for Athletics Ireland to celebrate in a year to remember for the sport.
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