Battocletti and Ndikumwenayo claim titles at European Cross Country Championships
taly’s Nadia Battocletti and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo crowned superb championships performances by claiming the senior individual titles at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, as Spain topped the overall medal table with eight medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze).
Belgium enjoyed a highly successful championships—particularly in the team races—winning three gold medals, while Great Britain finished third in the standings with six medals (2 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze). Ireland placed fourth with four medals, and Italy secured two golds.
Women’s senior race
Nadia Battocletti successfully defended her European senior women’s crown over the 7.47km course, one year after her breakthrough victory in Antalya. The Italian star proved once again that she is the dominant force in European distance running, defeating Britain’s Megan Keith and Türkiye’s Yasemin Can.
Battocletti made her decisive move on the fourth lap, covering the penultimate circuit in a blistering 4:58 to open a three-second gap at the bell. The 25-year-old then powered away on the final lap to win convincingly in 24:52, finishing 15 seconds clear of Keith. The Brit recovered impressively from an early fall to secure silver in 25:07, edging Can, who took bronze in 25:13.
Battocletti became just the fourth woman in championships history to defend a senior title and now owns six European cross country gold medals across the U20, U23 and senior categories. Her recent résumé is extraordinary: Olympic silver over 10,000m in Paris, world silver and bronze in Tokyo, European track titles in Rome, road gold over 10km, and six Italian records across track, road and indoor events.
Nadia Battocletti: “This victory is very precious because each race and each championships is different. To defend this title means a lot to me. I’ve completed the ‘triplette’—U20, U23 and senior titles—and now expectations are high. I love this course; it reminds me of the park near my home where I used to play as a kid.”
Belgium claimed the women’s senior team gold, led by Jana Van Lent in fourth place (25:24) and Lisa Rooms close behind. Chloe Herbiet finished seventh just one week after setting a Belgian marathon record in Valencia. Great Britain secured team silver, while France edged Italy by a single point to claim bronze—their first women’s senior team medal since 2015.
Top Results - Senior Women Race (7290m)
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nadia Battocletti | ITA | 24:52 |
| 2 | Megan Keith | GBR | 25:07 |
| 3 | Yasemin Can | TUR | 25:13 |
| 4 | Jana Van Lent | BEL | 25:24 |
| 5 | Lisa Rooms | BEL | 25:34 |
| 6 | Amina Maatoug | NED | 25:36 |
| 7 | Chloé Herbiet | BEL | 25:43 |
| 8 | Elena Burkard | GER | 25:45 |
| 9 | Sarah Lahti | SWE | 25:48 |
| 10 | Fiona Everard | IRL | 25:54 |
Men’s senior race
Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo produced a brilliant tactical run to win the men’s senior title in 22:05, improving on his bronze medal from Antalya. France’s world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier took silver in 22:08, while Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu claimed bronze in 22:23, edging Britain’s Scottie Beattie in a dramatic photo-finish.
Ndikumwenayo and Gressier broke clear on the second lap and built a seven-second advantage over a chase group that included Lobalu, Beattie and Spain’s Aaron Las Heras and Abdessamad Oukhelfen. The lead pair exchanged positions repeatedly on the final lap, but as Gressier stumbled on the final turn, Ndikumwenayo seized his moment and surged clear for gold.
Spain sealed team gold thanks to Oukhelfen (6th) and Las Heras (9th), while Ireland earned silver led by Jack O’Leary in fifth. France took bronze ahead of Great Britain.
Jimmy Gressier: “I came mainly to help the team and I also believed I could win individually. Second place isn’t exactly what I came for, but after such an amazing year—world champion, European half marathon champion—I’m satisfied. Thierry was stronger today. Bravo to him.”
Top Results - Senior Men race (7290m)
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | ESP | 22:05 |
| 2 | Jimmy Gressier | FRA | 22:08 |
| 3 | Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu | SUI | 22:23 |
| 4 | Scott Beattie | GBR | 22:23 |
| 5 | Jack O’Leary | IRL | 22:25 |
| 6 | Abdessamad Oukhelfen | ESP | 22:27 |
| 7 | Ruben Querinjean | LUX | 22:28 |
| 8 | Simon Sundström | SWE | 22:29 |
| 9 | Aarón Las Heras | ESP | 22:30 |
| 10 | Brian Fay | IRL | 22:31 |
Mixed relay
Italy retained their mixed relay title over the 5.96km course, once again showcasing their depth and consistency. Sebastiano Parolini, Marta Zenoni, Pietro Arese and Gaia Sabbatini combined for victory in 17:12, leading from the second leg onward.
Portugal thrilled the home crowd as Isaac Nader anchored the team to silver, holding off Great Britain in the final metres. The hosts claimed their first-ever mixed relay medal, finishing in 17:16, just one second ahead of the British quartet.
Pietro Arese: “This time all the work was done before I got the baton. I just had to maintain the position. I’m very grateful to my teammates.”
Men’s under-23 race
Ireland’s Nick Griggs delivered a historic performance, becoming the first Irishman to win an individual gold medal at the European Cross Country Championships. Griggs dominated the 5.96km race, winning in 17:47, 12 seconds clear of France’s Aurélien Radja.
Ireland also claimed team gold, led by Griggs and backed up by Callum Morgan and Niall Murphy, securing their third U23 men’s team title.
Nick Griggs: “I told myself to forget expectations and just run as fast as I could. This is a dream day—for me and for Ireland.”
Women’s under-23 race
Spain’s María Forero upgraded last year’s silver to gold, winning a thrilling head-to-head battle with Finland’s Ilona Mononen. Forero surged clear in the final kilometre to win in 19:59, five seconds ahead of Mononen.
Germany’s Pia Schlattmann claimed bronze, while France edged Germany on countback to take team gold, with Spain securing bronze.
María Forero: “I came here to give it all. This course suited me perfectly, and having my family here made it even more special.”
Women’s under-20 race
Britain’s Innes FitzGerald made history by winning her third consecutive European U20 cross country title, following victories in Brussels and Antalya. FitzGerald dominated from the front, crossing the line in 14:35—a record winning margin of 32 seconds.
Great Britain also claimed a record 19th U20 team title, underlining their continued dominance in the junior ranks.
Innes FitzGerald: “The atmosphere here is incredible. That team support is what brings me back every year.”
Men’s under-20 race
Belgium’s Willem Renders completed a golden year by winning the U20 title in 13:11, holding off Spain’s Oskar Gaitán by just one second after a thrilling final climb. Renders also led Belgium to their first-ever U20 team title, marking a landmark moment for Belgian distance running.
Willem Renders: “This course was incredibly tough—no recovery anywhere. I love cross country, and races like this are why.”
