Record medal haul for Ireland at European Cross Country Championships

Ireland have secured a record five medals at the Spar European Cross Country Championships at La Mandria Park in Italy today.

The total put Ireland in second place on the overall medal table, alongside Spain and France (Ireland took three medals at last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Fingal, Dublin).

Nick Griggs (silver) and Dean Casey (bronze) claimed a superb double podium finish for Ireland in the first race of the day, performances which would help the Irish U20s to the team silver medal alongside teammates Sean McGinley (12th), Callum Morgan (18th), Jonas Stafford (33rd), and Mark Hanrahan (53rd).

The men’s U23 claimed team bronze medal thanks to brilliant championship running from Efrem Gidey (5th), Keelan Kilrehill (9th), and Shane McEvoy (15th).

Darragh McElhinney (26th) was fearless in his pursuit of the individual medals, but last year’s silver medallist had to settle for 26th, having been with the leaders over the first three laps of the tough and undulating course.

Jamie Battle (55th) and Thomas McStay (63rd) rounded out another inspiring performance from the U23 team.

The Ireland senior women’s team used their championship racing experience to win another brilliant bronze thanks to an outstanding double act from twin sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan, who crossed side-by-side in 11th and 12th places.

Mary Mulhare (27th) rounded out the scoring for the bronze medal-winning-team, supported by Ann Marie McGlynn (31st), Aoibhe Richardson (46th), and Michelle Finn (55th).

The result continues a consistent run from the senior women’s team, who have taken medals for the fifth time in 11 years at these championships.

There were more outstanding performances away from the medals today too – Jane Buckley secured fifth place in the women’s U20 race, and in the senior men, three athletes were inside the top 30 in a quality field. Peter Lynch of Kilkenny City Harries was brilliant throughout and finished 15th ahead of Hiko Tonosa Haso (27th) and Brian Fay (30th).

Sarah Healy was in contention for a medal in the U23 race, but had to withdraw during the final lap with injury.

Today’s performances continue a consistent medal-winning-run for Irish athletes at European Cross Country Championships. Ireland have won 12 medals over the last te hreditions of the championships, a stat made all the more impressive when set against the 13 medals won in the previous 25 editions.

SUMMARY RESULTS

U20 Men Race

Individual Medals

1 GBR BARNICOAT Will 17:40

2 IRL GRIGGS Nicholas 17:41

3 IRL CASEY Dean 17:46

Team Medals

1 GBR Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10

2 IRL Ireland 17

3 ESP Spain 30

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 2nd):

Griggs 2nd

Casey 3rd

McGinley 12th

Morgan 18th

Stafford 33rd

Hanrahan 53rd

U20 Women Race

Individual Medals

1 550 FORERO Maria Spain 13:04

2 724 ØSTGÅRD Ingeborg Norway 13:07

3 571 MONONEN Ilona Finland 13:08

Team Medals:

Spain 21

Turkey 25

Germany 33

Irish finishing positions (Team 8th):

Buckley 5th

Hawkins 35th

Thompson 52nd

Gardiner 59th

Roberts 66th

Kehoe 72nd

Mixed Relay (4 x 1500m)

Medals

1 Italy 17:23

2 Spain 17:24

3 France 17.31

Irish Team Finishing Position:

9th in 17.56

U23 Men Race

Individual Medals:

1 GBR HICKS Charles 23:40

2 GBR MAHAMED Zakariya 23:48

3 FRA BRESC Valentin 23:58

Team Medals:

1 Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11

2 France 14

3 Ireland 29

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 3rd):

Gidey 5th

Kilrehill 9th

McEvoy 15th

McElhinney 26th

Battle 55th

McStay 63rd

U23 Women Race (6000m)

Individual Medals:

1 ITA BATTOCLETTI Nadia 19:55

2 GBR KEITH Megan 20:08

3 GBR MILLARD Alexandra 20:27

Team Medals:

1 Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10

2 Italy 31

3 France 38

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 7th):

Donegan 28th

O’Mahony 35th

Mooney 39th

McCann 54th

Healy DNF

O’Cuill DNF

Senior Women

Individual Medals:

1 NOR GRØVDAL Karoline Bjerkeli 26:25

2 GER KLOSTERHALFEN Konstanze 26:29

3 GER REH Alina 27:19

Team Medals:

1 Germany 9

2 Great Britain and Northern Ireland 30

3 Ireland 50

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 3rd):

E Flanagan 11th

R Flanagan 12th

Mulhare 27th

McGlynn 31st

Richardson 46th

Finn 55th

Senior Men

Individual Medals:

1 NOR INGEBRIGTSEN Jakob 29:33

2 GBR CAIRESS Emile 29:42

3 BEL KIMELI Isaac 29:45

Team Medals:

1 France 24

2 Italy 25

3 Spain 36

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 8th):

Lynch 15th

Haso 27th

Fay 30th

Keane 33rd

Dalton 36th

Murchan 67th

Full results here.

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