Gold for Griggs, senior silver for men, as Ireland claims four medals at Euro Cross Country

Griggs has now won an astonishing seven medals at the European Cross Country. There was also gold for the men's U23s, senior silver for the men, and a bronze for 16-year-old Emma Hickey in the women's U20 race

Sun, 14 Dec, 2025 - 17:35

Cathal Dennehy

Nick Griggs produced a stunning performance to cap a historic day for Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday – the Tyrone athlete powering to victory in the men’s U-23 race and leading his nation to team gold.

Meanwhile the Irish senior men’s team claimed its first medal at the event for 25 years – a superb silver, led by Jack O’Leary in fifth – and 16-year-old Emma Hickey announced her vast potential with a brilliant bronze in the women’s U-20 race.

“It’s unreal,” said Griggs. “I haven’t cried in a long time but there’s been a few tears shed. I can’t describe it. I’ve wanted this for so long and for it to come together, it’s so special.”

Four days shy of his 21st birthday, Griggs has now amassed an astonishing seven medals at the European Cross Country but before this he had never previously won an individual gold.

“I’ve been dreaming of it for a long time,” he said. “I was a nearly man at these champs, but finally I’m going to be at the top of the podium.”

🗣️“I haven’t cried in a long time but there’s been a few tears shed already”

The Men’s U23 team reflect on their historic run to claim the team title! 🥇#irishathletics #EuroCross #Lagoa2025 @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/Y5BCzY2ktv
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 14, 2025

His performance was an utterly dominant one, Griggs quietly coasting into contention on the first of four laps in the 5960m race and changing gears in devastating fashion to power clear on the final lap. He put huge daylight between himself and the field in the closing kilometre and hit the line in 17:47, 12 seconds clear of Aurélien Radja (17:59) of France, whose teammate Pierre Boudy took bronze in 18:03.

Griggs was backed up by training partner Callum Morgan in eighth, with Niall Murphy rounding out the Irish team scoring in 10th. That handed Ireland a comfortable team victory with just 19 points, with France second (33) and Spain third (43).

“I’m just so proud of myself and the lads beside me,” said Griggs. “I train with two of them, two of my best mates. It’s an unbelievable group of lads. They all put it together on the day and I’m just so proud that we managed to come home with a historic double gold for Ireland.”

Morgan also had the race of his life back in eighth. “In my mind there was no doubt that Nick was going to win gold,” he said. “It was just about us backing him up as a team.”

In the senior men’s race, Mullingar’s Jack O’Leary – nephew of Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary – also turned in a career-best performance to finish fifth, clocking 22:25. Gold went to Thierry Ndikumwenayo in 22:05, the Spaniard outkicking world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier of France in a close finish.

Fay was the second Irishman home in 10th, equalling his previous position from 2021, while Cormac Dalton was just behind in 11th. In a remarkable show of depth, all five Irishmen cracked the top-20, with Darragh McElhinney 16th and Efrem Gidey 19th. That left Ireland with 26 points, with Spain taking victory with 16 and France third with 37.

“Watching the U-23 lads was really inspirational,” said O’Leary. “All of us on the start line were absolutely raring to go. We had to just conserve the first bit as it was a very hard course and then just come through. It’s great to be back on the podium and please God, we’re going to stay up there for a very long time.”

🗣️“It’s an unbelievable result especially for Jack to come 5th in that field”

The senior men react to Ireland first senior men’s medal in 25 years! 🥈#irishatletics #EuroCross #Lagoa2025 @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/V1vrnim8RY
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 14, 2025

Fay said the medal was “long overdue” and it was “only upwards” for Irish distance running, while Dalton said: “If I don’t do much else in my career, it’s pretty special to get a major championship medal. It means the world and for all the lads who contributed to this team over the years, all the lads coming through, for all our family and friends, it’s class.”

Earlier in the day, Emma Hickey turned in a magnificent performance to win bronze in the U-20 women’s race. The 16-year-old was among the youngest athletes at the championships, the Wexford native underage for this category for the next three years, but she turned in a run far beyond her years, hitting the line in 15:10 for the 4450m distance to win Ireland’s first ever medal in that race.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she said. “I wanted to do well but I didn’t think it’d be possible (to win a medal) because I’m only 16. I didn’t know if I’d be able to hold it the whole time, but I managed to keep it [going]. It’s my first proper season and it’s great to finish it off like this, and hopefully I can go into next season even better and improve my times again.” British star Innes Fitzgerald proved a class apart, hitting the line in 14:35, a whopping 32 seconds clear of runner-up Lucie Paturel of France. Ireland’s Anna Gardiner turned in a fine performance to finish sixth in 15:17.

There was disappointment for the Irish in the mixed relay as their formidable quartet of Eimear Maher, Cian McPhillips, Laura Nicholson and Andrew Coscoran came home sixth, clocking 17:22 in a race won by Italy (17:12) ahead of Portugal (17:16) and Britain (17:17).

The Irish were firmly in medal contention up to halfway but a botched second exchange proved costly, McPhillips crashing into Nicholson while handing over the wristband, the Bandon woman crashing to the ground and losing a few seconds. Coscoran was simply left with too much to do on the anchor leg to get back in the medal hunt.

🗣️“As long as my training translated into my race I was going to be happy”

An unbelievable 10th place finish for Fiona Everard im the Senior Women’s race! 🤩#irishathletics #EuroCross #Lagoa2025 @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/q1HuJVz2rH
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 14, 2025

“I was struggling with the tight corners and it was just unfortunate, coming in at full speed I couldn’t get out of Laura’s way,” said McPhillips. “It’s not a great run from me, but we’ll move on.” Nicholson said she “just wasn’t prepared for Cian’s strength giving the hand-off”, adding that she “tumbled over and fell through [his] legs. But I feel like it didn’t put me back too much.”

National champion Fiona Everard had the race of her life in the senior women’s race, leading the Irish home in 10th, clocking 25:54, with fellow Cork woman Niamh Allen 23rd in 26:15. Italy’s Nadia Battocletti turned in another majestic performance to take gold, sauntering to victory in 24:52 ahead of Britain’s Megan Keith (25:07) and Turkey’s Yasemin Can (25:13). Danielle Donegan was the third Irish scorer in 36th, the Irish women finishing eighth.

“After the last two years, when I was really disappointed, to have a good year and a year that shows the training I’d done, I’m delighted,” said Everard.

Kirsty Maher was the leading Irish finisher in the U-23 women’s race, coming home 11th, with Amy Greene 20th. Noah Harris led the Irish in the U-20 men’s race, finishing 10th, with Cormac Dixon 13th.