A 34-strong Irish team will take to the competition this weekend at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, on Sunday, December 14th.

There is strong medal potential across the U23 and senior categories and ambitious emerging talent in the junior races.

Action begins at 09:30 am and continues through to the senior men’s race shortly after midday.

 

09:30 am – U20 Women (4450m)

Gardiner Leads Emerging Irish Squad Against Europe’s Best

Ireland’s opening team of the day features a blend of experience and exciting new talent.

Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) returns for her fourth consecutive Euro Cross appearance and does so in excellent form. The Providence College student has placed inside the top 20 at the last two editions and will again aim to contend deep into the race.

A standout storyline is the debut of Emma Hickey (United Striders AC), who will become the first Wexford athlete ever to compete at the European Cross Country Championships. Just 16 years old, Hickey has dominated the domestic scene this autumn, winning both the U20 title at the National Cross Country Championships and the Autumn International Open. She will look to make an immediate impact on the international stage.

Lucy Foster (Willowfield Harriers), 20th last year in Antalya, brings valuable championship experience, while Eimear Cooney (Ace AC) and Abby Smith (Shercock AC) make their Euro Cross debuts.

The race favourite is clear: Innes Fitzgerald (GBR), seeking her third straight U20 title.

Irish outlook: A realistic target is another top-20 finish for Gardiner and a strong team placing if the pack forms well behind her.

 

10:00 am – U20 Men (4450m)

 

Ireland’s U20 men return two athletes from last year’s squad, giving the team a solid base of experience.

Noah Harris (Parnell AC), 28th in Antalya, arrives home from his University of Tennessee scholarship in exceptional form, having won the National U20 title in Derry. He will hope to break into the top 20.

Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) also returns following a strong year in the NCAA system with Providence College under coach Ray Treacy. He placed 35th last year and reached the final of the 3000m at the European U20 Championships in August.

Debutants Caolan McFadden (Cranford AC), Tom Breslin (Clonliffe Harriers) and Finn Diver (Beechmount Harriers) complete the squad and bring growing momentum from strong domestic seasons.

With no clear dominant favourite in the field, the race appears wide open, creating opportunities for breakthrough performances.

 

10:26 am – U23 Women (5960m)

 

The U23 women were fifth in Antalya last year and now return with one of the most competitive squads Ireland has assembled at this level.

Roise Roberts (Candour Track Club) and Amy Greene (Finn Valley AC) enter in excellent shape after finishing first and second at the National Championships.

A major boost comes with the return of US-based duo Anika Thompson (Leevale AC) and Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers). Thompson enjoyed a standout summer, winning 10,000m gold and 5000m bronze at the European U23 Championships in Norway and holds the national U23 10,000m record.

O’Connor brings rich international experience, recently finishing top 10 at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships before running a 9:03.03 3000m PB in Boston. She is the national U23 record holder in the 3000m steeplechase.

Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC) completes the team, fresh from a top 40 performance in the U20 race at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships.

Irish outlook: This is a genuine team medal contender, with multiple potential top-15 individual finishers.

 

11:00 am – U23 Men (5960m)

 

Ireland’s strongest medal shout of the day lies with Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club), who won silver in last year’s U23 race despite an early fall. The 20-year-old has medalled at every Euro Cross since 2021 and has had an outstanding year on the track, setting Irish U23 records for the mile (3:52.42) and 5000m (13:05.75).

He is supported by a fully experienced squad:

Jonas Stafford (UCD AC) – part of Ireland’s historic U20 team gold in 2023

Niall Murphy (Ennis Track AC) – also a member of that gold-winning team

Callum Morgan (Candour Track Club) – has made every Irish underage team since 2022

Lughaidh Mallon (UCD AC) – Ireland’s top finisher in last year’s U20 race

Irish outlook: A podium finish is realistic for Griggs, with the team in contention for medals if the supporting athletes finish inside the top 30.

 

11:30 am – Mixed Relay (1300m; 1510m; 1510m; 1640m)

 

Ireland returns to the mixed relay for the first time since 2022 with an exceptionally strong quartet.

Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) makes his Euro Cross debut after a sensational year that saw him place fourth in the World Championships 800m, lowering the Irish record to 1:42.15. His transition from track to grass will be a highlight.

Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) returns to the event after representing Ireland in 2021 and 2022, finishing fourth in Dublin. He also reached the World Championship 1500m final this year.

The women’s legs feature:

Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) – World Championships 1500m qualifier who ran 4:07.17 this summer

Eimear Maher (DSD AC) – European U23 1500m bronze medallist, with a huge PB drop to 4:08.67

Irish outlook: This is one of Ireland’s strongest relay squads in years and a top-six finish is a clear target.

 

12:00 pm – Senior Women (7470m)

Two-time national champion Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) returns for her third Euro Cross appearance after defending her national title in Derry. She has shown year-on-year improvement and now enters among Europe’s more established senior contenders.

Niamh Allen (Leevale AC) cracked the top ten last year and will hope to replicate that success following strong training blocks alongside Everard in Cork.

Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) competes in her sixth straight European Championships, while Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) lines up for an extraordinary ninth appearance.

Emily Haggard-Kearney (North Belfast Harriers) makes her senior debut.

Irish outlook: A top-six team finish is achievable if Everard and Allen place inside the top 20.

 

12:41 pm – Senior Men (7470m)

 

Recent national champion Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) spearheads the men’s team, having won a thrilling race in Derry and enjoyed a breakthrough year on the track.

He is joined by a quartet rich in Euro Cross pedigree:

Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers) – making his sixth consecutive appearance

Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) – returns for his first Euro Cross since 2019

Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC) – 2021 individual silver and team gold medallist; ran 13:02.06 for 5000m this year

Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) – won European 10,000m Cup gold and finished top-20 at the World Championships 10,000m

Irish outlook: Ireland brings genuine depth, with multiple top-20 contenders and an outside shot at a top-five team finish.

 

Overall Irish Prospects

With the team’s blend of international class, US-based collegiate strength, and rising home-grown talent, this could be one of Ireland’s most productive European Cross Country Championships in recent years.

 

Image Credit: Athletics Ireland and Sportsfile

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