British Athletes Gear Up for Euro Cross Championships in Lagoa

The Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland team is set to compete at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, on December 14, 2023. The British squad aims to reclaim its position at the top of the medals table, with several athletes targeting individual titles and opportunities for selection in the upcoming World Cross Country Championships.

Innes FitzGerald seeks to secure her third consecutive title in the under-20 women’s race. Meanwhile, Will Barnicoat is aiming for a similar achievement in the under-23 men’s category. Both athletes have demonstrated strong performances leading up to this prestigious event, with FitzGerald recently winning at the Liverpool Cross Challenge and Barnicoat placing fourth at the Cardiff Cross Challenge.

The competition will take place on a course described by organizers as technically demanding, featuring “beaten earth and sand trails.” This challenging terrain includes two obstacles per lap, with a steep ascent and several lighter climbs, winding around an artificial lake. Organizers emphasize that the varied landscape will test both endurance and skill.

The Norwegian team, traditionally strong in cross-country events, will be led by Olympic 5000m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, a multiple Euro Cross winner. Nonetheless, the British team remains a formidable contender, as it announced its squad for the event on November 26.

The senior women’s team comprises Phoebe Anderson, Abbie Donnelly, Izzy Fry, Cari Hughes, Megan Keith, and Poppy Tank. The men’s senior team includes Scott Beattie, Jacob Cann, Joe Hudson, Calum Johnson, Rory Leonard, and Richard Slade. The mixed relay team features Holly Dixon, Ava Lloyd, Jack Higgins, and Callum Elson.

Under-23 and under-20 squads include emerging talents, with the under-23 women’s team featuring India Barwell, Rebecca Flaherty, Megan Harris, Emily Parker, Mia Waldmann, and Bea Wood. For the under-23 men, competitors such as Jenson Connell, Joel Doye, and Finley Proffitt are set to compete. The under-20 women’s team includes FitzGerald, Isabel Holt, and Beth Lewis, while the under-20 men’s team features Michael Clark, Jonson Hughes, and Quinn Miell-Ingram.

One significant absence from the team is George Couttie, the under-20 silver medallist at the last Euro Cross, who recently finished 10th at the NCAA Championships in the United States. Despite this omission, the focus remains on FitzGerald and Barnicoat, who aim to add to their accolades in Lagoa.

Megan Keith, a former European under-23 champion, joins the senior women’s squad after a strong performance in Spain, while Abbie Donnelly, who finished fifth in Liverpool, also earned her spot following a marathon in Frankfurt. Phoebe Anderson, who won the under-23 race last year in Turkey, adds further strength to the women’s team.

The European Cross Country Championships will serve as a trial for the World Cross Country Championships scheduled for January in Tallahassee, Florida. The top two senior men and women will automatically qualify for the World Championships if they finish in the top 12 in Lagoa. Similarly, the leading under-20 athletes will secure a spot if they place in the top six.

Sarah Benson, the team leader, expressed enthusiasm about the depth and quality within UK cross country, noting that the selected team blends seasoned performers with promising newcomers. “Our aim is to be on the podium at these championships and to provide emerging athletes with a platform to advance towards future senior outdoor majors,” she stated.

As the British team prepares for this crucial competition, anticipation builds for both individual triumphs and collective success on the international stage. The upcoming races in Lagoa promise to be a significant test for these athletes and a highlight of the cross-country calendar.