Italy’s Nadia Battocletti Wins Women’s Race as Britain’s Megan Keith Takes Silver, with GB Securing U20 Gold and Mixed Relay Bronze at the European Cross Country Championships

british Athletes Shine at European Cross Country Championships in Portugal

ALBUFEIRA, Portugal – December 14, 2025 – Great Britain and Northern Ireland delivered a strong performance at the European Cross Country Championships held today in Albufeira, Portugal, securing multiple medals and showcasing the nation’s rising athletic talent. The championships saw thrilling finishes and standout individual performances across several categories.

senior Races: Silver for Keith, Close Finish for Beattie

Megan Keith of Great Britain claimed a silver medal in the women’s senior race, finishing with a time of 25 minutes and 7 seconds. The race was won by Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who completed the course in 24 minutes and 52 seconds. Turkey’s Yasemin Can secured the bronze medal, finishing just seconds behind Keith in 25 minutes and 13 seconds. The British women’s team also achieved a commendable second-place finish in the team standings, trailing behind a dominant Belgian squad.

The men’s senior race witnessed a nail-biting finish, with Britain’s Scott Beattie narrowly missing out on a medal. Beattie dramatically threw himself across the finish line, clocking 22 minutes and 23 seconds, alongside Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu. However, both were edged out by Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, who took gold in 22 minutes and 5 seconds, and France’s Jimmy Gressier, who secured silver in 22 minutes and 8 seconds.

Junior and Relay Successes

Earlier in the day, innes Fitzgerald continued her winning streak, capturing her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s U20 race. Fitzgerald dominated the field, finishing in 14 minutes and 35 seconds. France’s Lucie Paturel finished second in 15 minutes and 7 seconds, while ireland’s Emma Hickey, at just 16 years old, earned a bronze medal with a time of 15 minutes and 10 seconds. The British team also triumphed in the women’s U20 team event.

💡 Pro Tip: Cross country running demands exceptional cardiovascular fitness and endurance. Incorporating interval training and hill repeats into your routine can significantly improve performance.

A mixed relay team consisting of Holly Dixon, Ava Lloyd, Callum Elson, and jack Higgins added to the medal haul, securing a bronze medal. Italy claimed the gold, with Portugal taking silver.Ireland also celebrated a victory, with Nick Griggs winning the U23 men’s title.

What year did the European Cross Country Championships begin?

---

Wikipedia‑style Context

The European Cross Country Championships (ECCC) are an annual competition organized by European Athletics since 1994. Designed to crown the continent’s best cross‑country runners across senior, under‑20 (U20) and mixed relay categories, the event rotates among European host cities, combining challenging natural terrain with a festive atmosphere that celebrates both elite performance and grassroots participation.

The 2025 edition marked the 31st running of the championships and was hosted in Albufeira, Portugal, on 14 December 2025. albufeira’s coastal dunes and undulating sand‑soil course presented a demanding test of stamina, speed, and tactical savvy, especially under the winter‑time conditions typical of the Algarve region.

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, a rising star born in 2000 who had already secured multiple national titles on the track and road, captured the senior women’s title in a tightly contested finish. Her victory highlighted Italy’s growing depth in distance running, complementing the nation’s historic success in the sport. On the senior men’s side, Burundi‑born Spanish runner Thierry Ndikumwenayo prevailed, underscoring the increasingly international composition of European cross‑country podiums.

grate Britain & Northern Ireland (GB & NI) delivered a strong overall performance, adding a silver in the senior women’s race (Megan Keith), gold in the U20 women’s individual and team races (Innes Fitzgerald), and a bronze medal in the mixed relay.The mixed relay format, introduced in 2017, pairs two men and two women from each nation to run a short, fast‑paced circuit, emphasizing both speed and team cohesion.

Key Data Table

Event	Gold Medalist	Country	winning Time	Silver Medalist	Bronze Medalist	Team Gold	Team Silver	Team Bronze
Senior Women	Nadia Battocletti	Italy	24:52	Megan Keith	Yasemin Can	Italy	belgium	Great Britain & NI
Senior Men	Thierry Ndikumwenayo	Spain	22:05	Jimmy Gressier	Scott Beattie	Spain	France	Switzerland
U20 Women – Individual	Innes Fitzgerald	Great Britain & NI	14:35	Lucie P