Luke Micallef and Gabriel Farrugia will be representing Malta at the Lagoa 2025 European Cross Country Championships, scheduled to take place on Sunday, 14 December in Portugal.
Fresh from establishing the Masters O35 Half-Marathon National Record in Ravenna with a time of 1:04:57, experienced athlete Luke Micallef will compete in the men’s Senior race over the 7.5km course, marking his third consecutive appearance in the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Jimmy Gressier, the 10000m World Champion, is the firm favorite in the men’s Senior race which will also be contested by Dominic Lobalu of Switzerland, the current European 10,000m Champion.
Meanwhile, young talent Gabriel Farrugia, who has demonstrated his fine form by winning the first two races of the national road running league, will compete in the U23 men’s race over 6km. For Farrugia, Lagoa 2025 will be his fifth consecutive appearance at the premier event in continental cross country running, showcasing his commitment to the sport at the highest level of European competition. The men’s U23 race will feature Great Britain’s Will Barnicoat who will be bidding for a hat-trick of U23 titles at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships as well as European U23 champions Stefan Nillessen Joel Ibler Lillesø and Maciej Megier. In the same race Ireland’s Nick Griggs will be targeting an elusive gold after three successive silver and bronze medals in previous editions.
The 31st SPAR European Cross Country Championships are set to be hosted by the scenic coastal town of Lagoa, Portugal, marking the fourth time this prestigious event has taken place on Portuguese soil. In total, 644 athletes from 36 Member Federations are due to compete in this year’s edition promising a spectacular display of cross-country running showcasing Europe’s running talent against the backdrop of the beautiful Algarve region. The course in Lagoa Urban Park is largely flat but features challenging sections of sand and mud setting the stage for intense competition.
Malta’s participation is supported by the Maltese Olympic Committee and SportMalta.
