Nick Griggs leads Ireland to U-23 individual and team gold at European Cross Country Championships
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The winning Ireland team, from left, Callum Morgan, Lughaidh Mallon, Nick Griggs, Jonas Stafford and Niall Murphy after the U23 men’s race at the 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Nick Griggs produced a stunning performance to win gold in the men’s U-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday morning, leading the Irish to team gold.
Yet to turn 21, Griggs has now won an astonishing seven medals at the European Cross Country, but had never previously won an individual gold. His performance was utterly dominant, the Tyrone athlete breaking clear on the final lap and hitting the line in 17:47, 12 seconds clear of France’s Aurélien Radja (17:59), with France’s Pierre Boudy third 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. The Irish claimed a comfortable victory in the team event with just 19 points, with France second on 33 and Spain third (43).
However, there was disappointment in the mixed relay as a strong Irish 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).
Ireland were firmly in medal contention up to halfway but a mistake at the second exchange proved costly, with Nicholson virtually static as she took the bracelet from McPhillips, who crashed into her, knocking her to the ground. Coscoran simply had too much to do on the anchor leg to make up the lost ground and get back in the medal hunt.
Earlier in the day, Emma Hickey turned in a magnificent performance to win bronze in the U-20 women’s race. Hickey, 16, was among the youngest athletes at the championships, the Wexford native having three more years at U-20 level, but she turned in a run far beyond her years, hitting the line in 15:10 for the 4450m distance to win Ireland’ first ever medal in this race.
British star Innes Fitzgerald proved a class apart out front, 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.
More to follow…
