Ireland’s historic medal haul at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa can now be relived in full, with complete race replays capturing those medal moments from a remarkable weekend. From Emma Hickey’s Under 20 bronze to Nick Griggs’ breakthrough Under 23 gold and a long awaited senior men’s team medal, the videos below tell the story of one of Ireland’s most successful European Cross campaigns:
Emma Hickey Secures U20 Bronze for Ireland
Emma Hickey delivered a superb performance in the Under 20 women’s race, running with composure and confidence to claim bronze in a high quality European field. The United Striders athlete held her position through a demanding final kilometre to secure Ireland’s first individual medal of the day in Lagoa.
Full race replay below
Nick Griggs Wins U23 Gold & Leads Ireland to Team Gold
Nick Griggs finally claimed his long awaited European Cross Country title with a commanding victory in the Under 23 men’s race, winning by 12 seconds. The Candour Track Club athlete’s win was backed up by strong runs from Callum Morgan and Niall Murphy, securing Ireland’s first ever U23 men’s team gold and underlining the depth of this emerging group.
Full race replay below
Senior Men End 31-Year Wait with Team Silver
Ireland’s senior men capped the weekend with a historic silver medal, ending a 31 year wait to reach the podium at senior team level. Jack O’Leary led the team home with a superb fifth place finish, with Brian Fay and Cormac Dalton finishing together inside the top eleven to secure a deserved team medal.
Full race replay below
A Weekend to Remember for Irish Cross Country
Across age groups, Ireland produced one of its strongest ever performances at the European Cross Country Championships. Multiple medals, historic firsts, and depth across the squads made it a standout weekend for Irish athletics.
Congratulations to all athletes and support staff involved on an exceptional few days in Lagoa