Ireland head for Euro Cross primed to continue prolific medal streak

The best individual chance in Portugal comes in the men’s U-23 race where Nick Griggs will look to add to the astonishing five medals he's already amassed at the Euro Cross

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025 - 18:06

Cathal Dennehy

It’s seven years since the Irish returned from the European Cross Country Championships empty handed and given the strength of this year’s team, they’re highly likely to continue the medal streak in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday.

The best individual chance is in the men’s U-23 race (5960m), which goes to the line at 10am Irish time. Nick Griggs is a week shy of his 21st birthday, but the Tyrone athlete has already amassed an astonishing five medals at the Euro Cross, winning individual U-20 silver and bronze before taking U-23 silver last year. In 2022, he led the Irish U-20s to team silver, while in 2023 he led them to gold.

After an injury-hit start to the year, he bounced back to set the Irish U-23 5000m record of 13:05.75 and win silver at the European U-23s and he’s been just as impressive this cross country season – finishing fifth in a world-class race in Spain before coming home a close second at nationals behind Brian Fay.

His chief rival in Lagoa is Britain’s Will Barnicoat, who outkicked Griggs for U-20 victory in 2022 and again to claim last year’s U-23 title. Dutch athlete Stefan Nillessen and Denmark’s Joel Ibler Lilleso should also be in the mix. With three to score in the team event, Ireland should be contenders with Niall Murphy and Jonas Stafford backing up Griggs alongside Callum Morgan and Lughaidh Mallon.

“Definitely [the goal is] to be on the podium,” said Griggs at nationals. “Second there twice, third once, obviously the aim will always be to go there and win. We’ve a very good team as well, so hopefully some chances of a medal team-wise (too).”

With Jakob Ingebrigtsen withdrawing from the senior men’s race, the path looks clear for world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier to capitalise and hopes are high that Ireland can secure its first medal in this category for 25 years. The Irish will be led by Fay, who’s backed up by Cormac Dalton, Jack O’Leary, Darragh McElhinney and Efrem Gidey.

“We probably need three in the top-12 or top-15 (to win a medal),” said Fay. “We have a very strong men’s team. All those guys have the capability to come 10th and hopefully we can push for a team medal.”

The mixed relay (10.30am Irish time) looks to be Ireland’s other leading medal shot given the strength of the quartet: Cian McPhillips, Andrew Coscoran, Laura Nicholson and Eimear Maher. The legs vary in distance (1300m, 1510m, 1510m and 1640m) so Coscoran will likely run the anchor leg, with McPhillips second or third, and teams only need to declare their lead-off runner before the race, with changes to the running order possible throughout.

“We’re hoping for a medal,” said McPhillips. “We’ve probably the strongest team we’ve ever sent.”

Niamh Allen is likely Ireland’s best hope in the senior women’s race, having finished 10th on a similar fast, dry course in Antalya last year, while national champion Fiona Everard will hope to improve on her 34th-place finish two years ago in Brussels.

European Cross Country Championships Live, Sunday: RTÉ 2 (10.45am), RTÉ Player/Eurovision Sport (9am)