Nick Griggs produced a stunning performance to take victory in the men’s U-23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday morning, the Tyrone athlete also leading the Irish to team gold.
It proved the highlight on a historic day for the Irish, with the senior men’s team claiming its first medal for 25 years – a superb silver, led by Jack O’Leary in fifth – while 16-year-old Emma Hickey announced her star potential with a bronze medal 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.” Yet to turn 21, Griggs has now amassed an astonishing seven medals at the European Cross Country, but before today 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.”
His performance was an utterly dominant one, Griggs slowly coasting into contention on the first of four laps in the 5960m race and breaking clear on the final lap. He put huge daylight between himself and the field 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.
He was backed up by training partner Callum Morgan in eighth, with Niall Murphy rounding out the Irish team scoring in 10th. That handed the Irish a comfortable team victory with just 19 points, with France second (33) and Spain third (43).
“I’m just so proud of myself and so proud of 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 had the race of his life 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 – had a remarkable run to finish fifth, clocking 22:25. Gold went to Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo in 22:05, who outkicked world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier of France in a close finish.
Fay was the second Irishman home in 10th, equalling his finishing position from 2021, and Cormac Dalton was just behind in 11th. In a remarkable show of strength, all five Irishmen cracked the top-20, with Darragh McElhinney 16th and Efrem Gidey 19th. That left Ireland with a points tally of 26, with Spain taking victory with 16 and France third with 37.
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 still with 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’s first ever medal in this 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 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.
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).
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.
“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.
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.
