Westmeath athletes shine as Ireland make cross country history

Irish athletics brought a record medal-winning 2025 season to a memorable close at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa this afternoon (Sunday), securing a first senior men’s medal in 25 years with an outstanding team silver (Dec 14th).

The historic achievement capped a superb day for Team Ireland, which also included individual and team gold in the men’s U23 race and a brilliant bronze medal for 16-year-old Emma Hickey in the women’s U20 event.

The senior men’s silver medal came Ireland’s way through a superb collective team performance, with all five Irish athletes finishing inside the top 20 to total 26 points, just 10 behind eventual champions Spain.

Westmeath's Jack O’Leary led the Irish charge with an excellent 5th place finish, while Brian Fay also secured a top-10 placing (10th).

Another Westmeath athlete, Cormac Dalton followed closely in 11th, and Darragh McElhinney (16th) and Efrem Gidey (19th) completed a memorable team effort. Both O'Leary and Dalton are members of Mullingar Harriers AC.

Speaking after the race, O’Leary said: “Watching the U23s and the other Irish teams gave us huge confidence. Seeing Griggs do his thing out front in the U23 race was really inspirational, and everyone on the start line was raring to go.

"It was a tough course, so you had to be conservative early and work your way through the field. It’s the first senior men’s medal in 25 years, so it’s great to be back on the podium, and hopefully we can stay there for a long time.”

Thierry Ndikumwenayo of Spain claimed individual gold in a time of 22:05, finishing ahead of France’s Jimmy Gressier (22:08), and Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu in 22:23.

In the senior women’s race, national champion Fiona Everard delivered a career-best performance to finish an impressive 10th individually. Everard was followed across by Niamh Allen (23rd), Danielle Donegan (36th), Emily Haggard-Kearney (44th) and Mary Mulhare (50th) for an 8th place team finish overall.

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti secured individual gold with a winning time of 24:52, followed by Megan Keith of Great Britain in second (25:07) and Türkiye’s Yasemin Can in third (25:13).

Griggs dominates as Ireland secure U23 double gold

Earlier in the day, Ireland celebrated a golden double in the men’s U23 event, led by a commanding individual performance from Nick Griggs. Still just 20 years of age, the Tyrone athlete secured the first individual European Cross Country gold medal of his career, further enhancing his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting endurance athletes.

Griggs showed composure throughout the initial stages of the race before making a decisive move on the final lap, pulling clear of the field to cross the line in 17:47, 12 seconds ahead of France’s Aurélien Radja, with Pierre Boudy (France) claiming bronze.

Griggs said: “It’s unreal. I haven’t cried in a long time, but there are a few tears already, and probably a few more when I see my coach. I can’t describe it. I’ve wanted this for so long, and to put it together today is so special. To win individual gold is something I’ve dreamed about for years. Finally, after four and a half years, I’m back on top of the podium again. I’m so proud of myself and so proud of the lads beside me.”

Griggs was strongly supported by his Irish teammates, Callum Morgan finishing an excellent 8th and Niall Murphy placing 10th. Their combined efforts secured a dominant team gold for Ireland with just a 19 point total, well clear of France in second and Spain in third. Jonas Stafford finished 29th, with Lughaidh Mallon 48th, rounding out the team.

The Irish U23 women’s team finished seventh overall, and were in contention throughout the race. Kirsty Maher ran a huge race to finish 11th while there was much encouragement from the outings of Amy Greene (20th), Ava O’Connor (25th), Anika Thompson (26th) and Roise Roberts (34th).

Hickey makes history with U20 bronze

Ireland also celebrated a historic milestone in the women’s U20 race, as Emma Hickey produced a superb performance to claim bronze, Ireland’s first ever medal in the event. Just 16 years old and one of the youngest athletes in the field, the Wexford athlete demonstrated remarkable maturity to complete the 4,450m course in 15:10.

Hickey said: “I wasn’t expecting that at all. I didn’t think it would be possible because I’m only 16. I didn’t know if I’d be able to stay with them or what the competition would be like.

"I thought they might kick on the last lap, but everyone was tired, and I managed to hold on for a medal. It’s my first proper season and I feel like I’m better now than earlier in the year, so hopefully I can go even better next year.”

Anna Gardiner also impressed with a strong sixth-place finish, while Lucy Foster (56th), Eimear Cooney (78th) and Abby Smith (79th) completed the Irish lineup.

Later in the session. the mixed relay of Eimear Maher, Cian McPhillips, Laura Nicholson and Andrew Coscoran finished sixth in a high-quality race, having been unfortunate to lose valuable seconds following a fall at the penultimate changeover. Results summary follows below.

U20 Women's Race

Individual Medals

1.FITZGERALD Innes GBR 14:35

2.PATUREL Lucie FRA 15:07

3.HICKEY Emma IRL 15:10

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 6th):

•3rd Emma Hickey United Striders AC

•6th Anna Gardiner East Down AC

•56th Lucy Foster Willowfield Harriers

•78th Eimear Cooney Ace AC

•79th Abby Smith Shercock AC

U20 Men's Race

Individual Medals

1.RENDERS Willem BEL 13:11

2.GAITAN Oscar ESP 13:12

3.ABRAHAM Alois FRA 13:19

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 5th):

•10th Noah Harris Parnell AC

•13th Cormac Dixon Tallaght AC

•36th Caolan McFadden Cranford AC

•65th Finn Diver Beechmount Harriers

•67th Tom Breslin Clonliffe Harriers

U23 Women's Race

Individual Medals

1.Maria Forero (ESP) – 19:59

2.Ilona Mononen (FIN) – 20:04

3.Pia Schlattmann (GER) – 20:23

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 7th):

•11th Kirsty Maher Moy Valley AC

•20th Amy Greene Finn Valley AC

•25th Ava O'Connor Tullamore Harriers

•26th Anika Thompson Leevale AC

•34th Roise Roberts Candour Track Club

U23 Men's Race

Individual Medals

1.GRIGGS Nicholas IRL 17:47

2.RADJA Aurélien FRA 17:59

3.BOUDY Pierre FRA 18:03

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 1st GOLD):

•1st Nick Griggs Candour Track Club

•8th Callum Morgan Candour Track Club

•10th Niall Murphy Ennis Track AC

•29th Jonas Stafford UCD AC

•48th Lughaidh Mallon UCD AC

Senior Women's Race

Individual Medals

1.BATTOCLETTI Nadia ITA 24:52

2.KEITH Megan GBR 25:07

3.CAN Yasemin TUR 25:13

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 8th):

•10th Fiona Everard Bandon AC

•23rd Niamh Allen Leevale AC

•36th Danielle Donegan Tullamore Harriers

•44th Emily Haggard- Kearney North Belfast Harriers

•50th Mary Mulhare Portlaoise AC

Senior Men's Race

Individual Medals

1.NDIKUMWENAYO Thierry ESP 22:05

2.GRESSIER Jimmy FRA 22:08

3.LOBALU Dominic Lokinyomo SUI 22:23

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 2nd)

•5th Jack O’Leary Mullingar Harriers

•10th Brian Fay Raheny Shamrock AC

•11th Cormac Dalton Mullingar Harriers

•16th Darragh McElhinney Bantry AC

•19th Efrem Gidey Clonliffe Harriers

Mixed Relay Race (Team 6th)

•Eimear Maher Dundrum South Dublin AC

•Laura Nicholson Bandon AC

•Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea AC

•Cian McPhillips UCD AC.