WHAT A DAY! 🙌 Extended highlights | Brussels 2023 SPAR European Cross Country Championships

An afternoon of true cross country racing! Re-live the best of the action from the Brussels 2023 SPAR European Cross Country Championships!

SUBSCRIBE to our channel for the best European Athletics videos and highlights: https://www.youtube.com/europeanathletics

Follow European Athletics:
https://www.european-athletics.com/
https://www.instagram.com/europeanathletics/
https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanAthletics
Tweets by EuroAthletics

@europeanathletics

#Athletics #EuropeanAthletics #TrackandField

Caroline B Graal has been here so many times like I said on the start line there going for her 10th individual medal at these championships today across the age group she’s been such a star two times a champion um in 2021 and 2022 in 2015 16

17 and 18 she won bronze stepped up to Silver in 2019 and obviously as I said those two goals following on can she go for three in a row but right beside her tracking her as she should is Nadia bti she’s going for five consecutive victories in a row at the eurocross but

That lady there in shot Caroline Berkley graell is going for three in a row at senior level him something has to give is that gap opening now to B and you just get the sense with graell she knows this game so so well and there it

Is you saw that look over her left shoulder that was not a d that was at Bad lady and that will fill her with confidence she’s going of approaching the halfway point she’s on the third of six laps here and I think she is the real atlete B clet who she would have

Been afraid of and look back the field back into fifth place this time it is going to be Caroline buk groell carrying the Norwegian colors to Glory with what is an exhibition of a display there that downhill section that’s about the nicest section of the course actually CU it’s downhill a right hand

Curve on good ground good going and you can really push hard there and enjoy that downhill momentum gral ofing has accelerated I’ll bet you this final 1500 met lap will have been the quickest of her four looking very very comfortable indeed she’s got 49 seconds now to spare

Over Nadia ble in second who in turn is 6 seconds clear of Abby Donley who looks to be headed for bronze unless something unforeseen happens there but what a performance this is It’s been a true display as we see that Gap looks to be growing Nadia bti now this is kind of

Her wheelhouse inside this last kilometer she will be kicking in hard Nadia bti but a brilliant run from Abby Donley that’s going to be such a well-deserved bronze medal and in the background there you see F in the on her way to Fourth not quite enough for medal

Today but Fina McCormack with 18 appearances at the European cross country that’s a record for a female it’s only one behind Ukraine sery lebid and we’d expect her I’m sure to come back next year at the age of 40 given she’s still in contention for medals at

The age of 39 but Caroline Berkeley graell she can now see the Finish every step she takes in this direction will be a step that takes her closer towards the line and towards her third senior European cross country title from the gun she made it tough and she is tough

She is tough she is classy she’s courageous she is already celebrating and she should luxuriate in this feeling because at the age of 33 Caroline bule gral is going to join the greats of not just the European cross country championships but the greats of European distance running Norway is back on top

And Caroline Berkeley groell with an exhibition a master class here in Brussels yeah as if she needed to write another line on the most astonishing CV but she has an in dramatic style a truly dominant run 3340 B clti well I’ll tell you what her first effort in the senior

Ranks Carl and she’s gone really well here to battle through a bad patch in the middle of the race to come through for this Silvera and uh how much ground has she opened up on Abby Donnelly who suffered under this last lap or two to secure this silver a little way back

Underlines the dominance of gral but it also underlines what a brilliant car characterful silver that is for the Italian absolutely and Abby Donley I’m sure will be overjoyed yes it looked like silver for a lot of that race but her first medal at the European cross country championships will leave

Her joyous on the way home ninth last year third this year and a very welcome piece of excess baggage and the flight back to Britain for Abby donelly it’s very fun to take uh three goals in a row it was my main goal uh for this race so I’m very happy

Yeah I just suddenly got the Gap I didn’t try to get it uh but I just tried to push every lap just trying to find a pace that I could manage to run to the Finish Line uh so I just I wanted a a fast race just uh yeah just go go with

The pace so I’m happy here we go the men’s 9k gets underway don’t muck about do they bang and away they go no worrying about full Starts Here you’ve got a a long way to go fellas just get on with it I like that very businesslike and it is quick crazy quick

Through the first couple hundred Meters but shrub now turning the screw 21 minutes on the clock and he’s I get the impression is trying to break Milner here Mira sticking to the task is a little bit isolated that Belgian pairing closing on him there’s cripper he’s moved up a little bit he’s in the top 10

Prer is he about eighth I think 1 2 3 4 5 six seven he’s actually in seventh now as cripper he’s got the Spaniard behind him that’s uh Elfen I think who’s going really well redfest left a picture that cap is growing there’s no doubt about it yeah for sure I think

This is starting to come down to a Twan race I don’t want to tempt fade and I think of the two Yan shrub is the man who is looking around most and much like in our under 23 race earlier with will bernot I don’t think he’s looking round

Out of fear I think he’s looking round to gather some information ahead of this final lap just identifying right where are the big guns where are the guys like kpo where are camelli where are the belgians and it’s starting to boil down to a head-to-head race unless mirror can

Produce something a comeback but it would need to be something special because he would not have let that 15 20 M Advantage open if he could all help it shrub lead 2810 at 8.3 km Milner 10 second down he’s locked in a battle with mea the Britain locked with mea the

Norwegian henrix of Belgium can the belgians get a medal here can they get somebody on the roster and they look like they’re heading for team gold anyway look at the packing from the belgians haymans and chameleons 7th and eighth getto Horn of Israel and ukelin of Spain giving great account of thems

Here Haymon is just going through a bad section he’s really suffering look at him HRI his teammate is closing on him but as long as they can hold those positions not lose too much then Belgian are assured of the goal and Dalton the best of the Irish at

The moment it’s Yan shrub who leads this the battle for the minor medals there’s only a few hundred meters to go meor of Norway has rallied he’s battling on a glance over his shoulder Henrik inab briten brother back surely has been an inspiration to this young man through

His career but Yan shrubber France is heading for gold he has destroyed them over this last lap and a half it’s been a majestic run by the Frenchman at the age of 27 the European Championship bronze medalist at 10,000 M last year becomes gold medalist over the country

In Belgium this year it’s been a quite fantastic run from Yan shrub France have gold in the senior men’s race mea takes silver for Norway what a run from him and Hendrix gets that bronze and Hugo Milner off us for so much of the race being in medal contention ends up in

Four place he must be gutted shrub well his dominance actually bed by that 3sec margin he was very very strong through the final lap it was a great a great race today it’s very hard with the with the mud but uh my old family fan club is

Here uh it’s uh 50% for me my two coach anony and and Dominic always was all was here for for a good race today and the first place in the the European Championship is a is um is a dream for Me never never in the in the French team one person make uh Mak the first place I am very happy and for the team for the team we have two in the team the the silver medal in the team is it’s it’s very good for for me and for for

For but we’re at this halfway point we will get from for the first time a really good indication of where the overall lay the land is with one man and one woman to come for all the teams we’ll see who’s actually out front and clearly it looks like Britain at halfway

Stage are on their way perhaps to a fourth title brilliant run this from moley she will hand over to well it looks like she’s handing over to uh Adam fog they changed their decision fog was due to be on the final leg we have only seen two legs haven’t we I’m just

Getting confused here we were told fog would be on the final leg but I think Great Britain wanting to really maximize the advantage they’ve got because Beth moley has given them a really decent lead there as they came in for that second change over and fog here now will pour it

On and Adam fog is certainly showing a lot of hurt here as he turns into the home straight about 100 meters left to run and kaisa manga will be waiting for the final leg that surf is really cutting up now with every race it’s getting thicker and

Thicker the mud as fog comes in he’ll hand over over to Manga she on the final leg fog having done a great job on leg three now what is that Gap there’s Malanga that friends have Alexis Mi on this final leg who is a master time and

Again he’s shown it in this mixed Rel he knows how to get this right there he is in the center your shot waiting I will be stunned if he doesn’t get them up to the silver medal position as he tends to do a look out too for the athletes

Closing from behind as you said it’s mostly men on these final legs rahand duras on the final leg for the Netherlands heads out against the French final leg Runner that is as you said Alexis M PR M excuse me I’ve been pronouncing it wrong it’s a 334 fella

Against a woman who’s run 159 for Great Britain up ahead of him that’s the target but the target is so far it’s I mean it’s well over a minute look at that uh it’s a huge gap between Great Britain and the chasing teams you can see it is narrowing

Substantially now that lead and for the first time Kaa manga looks to be in deep distress and it is a downhill run to the finish and you have to watch your footing here it’s lumpy it’s uneven there’s dry patches there’s muddy patches Kista manga has to focus like

She’s never focused before for this next minute to hang on for gold for Britain because the master of this event Mi is on the charge Manga look really to be suffering there I don’t know if she got a yell or a shout from somebody saying come on

Dig deep but maybe she got a glance maybe she had a look over her shoulder at the fact that the Dutch and French athletes behind her both male are closing fast she’s got a little distance to go just yet not far is she going to hang on the bricks played their race

Card on leg three with Adam fog opening up a massive gap for their CET but manga now surely is safe or is she we can’t see the Gap at the moment she’s breathing hard and there is the battle behind as they’ve got a Target now it

Makes such a difference if you’ve got a visible Target to Chase and they are coming back at her closing with every stride manga now with how far to go it’ be great to get some indication on the course side as manga now is being chased down by the Dutchman brahmanas and the

Frenchman Alexis M surely she can hang on Oki the crowds roaring her on a more difficult section here the m is deepest in this final section as manga trying to hang on for Great Britain takes the long line round the outside and I’m not sure she’s going to make it here they come

The Netherlands in second France in third the British played their race card and has come unstuck in the final few meters manga not with the strength here today she’s given absolutely everything but you called it right Carl because melee has produced the speed there for the French and they will win the mixed

Relay here in Brussels br brilliant running from melee on the final leg there perfect judgment gold for France silver for the Netherlands and bronze for Great Britain manga there was nothing more she could do she gave 101% it created fascinating Jeopardy over the final couple of minutes for the

French come out on top and don’t you know it from these pictures this is the point of the race they’re turning into that final little Loop probably only about 600 me left I think from here and ston here it’s starting to open up and breast now he’s putting the pressure on is this

Decisive well I’ll tell you what my heart says I want a Brit to win for obvious reasons but breque has done so much of the work he’s led the vast majority of the race to Frenchman he’s really applied the pressure lap after lap he’s the one who’s done put in the

Hard effort and he’s now looks to me like maybe he’s got rid of stonia match stonia the 22y old who has fabulous speed the quickest in the race at 1500 M eighth last year has now got a gap of about seven or eight meters between him and the leading pair he’s in bronze

Medal position and looks safe for that but bras from will barook the under 20 champion last year surely he can’t come back straight away and win the under 23 title as Valentine Brash kicks on and now and into the home straight more or less he doesn’t have the same strength as bar

Who is tucked in there and glances over his shoulder now is that telling is barut worried about what’s going on behind him instead of what’s going on around him he’s in the lead now for the first time it’s absolutely the first time that Britain has got his nose in

Front but BR has now got a Target sometimes it’s may be a better to be a meter behind somebody than a meter in front of them stonia too is chasing hard the Gap behind this first three is massive because of the battle going on between them but barott here who has got

To stay focused got to keep his head down and drive for the line and bre’s got a Target he’s worked so hard the Frenchman lap after lap and he’s not giving up no CH for barot here to relax as they come towards the line and the Frenchman is coming back at him butan

Press is pushing hard to try and catch will barut of Great Britain it’s going to be barut though who takes gold for Great Britain in the when Men’s Under 23 contest absolutely brilliant racing here in Brussels Britain France and Britain get bronze a fabulous bronze medal for the Miler Matt

Stonia and fourth place battled out fiercely there between the spani and uh and and the Norwegian goodness me let’s take a look at who got that one Tim you said with about 300 me to go there is Will barut looking behind because he’s struggling and I thought the same thing

As you but I think as the next few seconds played out it was quite clear that Will barnot was not looking behind in terms of being caught in the race for silver he was looking around to check where Matt stonier his British teammate was with that vicious 1500 met speed he

Has because I think at that point he knew he had valenton br’s number under 20 champ last year by about a meter or two under 23 champ this year by a meter or two so Megan keate then if anything has accelerated I talked a few minutes ago about her sort of a

Incredible even of tempo 528 528 for the two previous 1500 met laps 1 minute 18 The Gap now her last lap was 527 a gap now over the opposition 1 minute 18 this surely is going to be the biggest winning margin in any race ever at the European cross country

Championships you want to know something Tim it’s not only the biggest winning margin it is exactly with one lap to run double the second biggest winning Marin ever Annie Emily Müller in 2019 won this by 39 seconds and Megan Kei with double that advantage and still 1500 me to run

And look at her she is not slowing down does make you wonder what she’d have done as she’d been in the senior race doesn’t it I mean you know that that’ll come in in a couple of years time but she’d have given a pretty good account of

Herself yeah V also there of Spain hanging on well and as I mentioned Lithuanian Karen es SK is still holding on strongly but these two fins as it’s been if we take Megan Keith out of it they’ve been from the St two of the strongest at least the two strongest

Athletes in that chasing pack and they do not look like they’re going to surrender anything in Megan key that’s the first time in almost 7 kilomet of running we’ve seen a smile on Megan ke’s face and as much as she’s no doubt hurting I’m sure she could have Tempo

Ran her way to Victory here because Megan Keith 21 years old the Scott is on fire here and I think sometimes you just have to stand back and applaud and that’s what the crowd is doing here the non-british crowd they can it’s it’s almost scarce incedible how far in front

She is you know she will pass and then they have there it is 85 second Advantage she’s not just going to have the biggest winning margin ever it’s going to be more than double it might even go out over 90 seconds by the time this race ends Megan Keith European

Under 20 Champion two years ago silver last year that is very much going to be upgraded to gold and what a feeling this must be it was a Sprint finish two years ago when she won that gold in Dublin it’s going to be nothing of the sort

High-fiving her way she’s almost in the home stret you’ll have to she wants to do a bit of steeple chaseing she can jump that GRE air sign but she’s out she’s catching sight of the finish and Megan Keith there’ll be lots of senior success in her future but for today it’s

About under 23 Gold for the Great Britain Megan ke Magnificent and you’re right that’s a winning margin well it’s going to be pushing two minutes by the time the rest of them come through that is superum brilliant run by the first of the flying fins not far back at all and just hanging on there is blomus she is going

To take the bronze medal fighting for every step because she was being closed down on by Maria vosa of Spain fin drop exhausted and indeed it was mon in there taking the silver Blum fist in third fosa in fourth and the winning margin 1 minute 20 three

Seconds unbelievable I think I knew with in going into the last laugh I had kind of disasters aside I had built up a margin that I could afford to enjoy it um so I could kind of I was still I was still working hard and trying to keep my

Momentum but I was it was fun to be able to enjoy it out there with all the all the support out on the course and it’s down to two up front unless Nick Griggs can produce a miraculous comeback and now we see laros for the first first time really start to

Test Axel van Christensen he has the speed he has the gears careful around this corner it can get a little tricky we see Christenson maybe just stealing the meter there laros just playing it a little safer but they’re going to turn out of this little short Loop this 300

Me or so loop back onto the main perimeter lap that was really interesting laros used a an era of better surface to accelerate and snatch a couple of meters on Christensen into the muddy I suspect the D will do better but laros absolutely maximizing the opportunity to get away and push hard on

This surface look at that it’s like the tour to France there is the the course Narrows they run through deep crowds to either side in the neighboring country Netherlands are out in force here to cheer this star I dare say he might might not not just be a star of Dutch

Athletics but perhaps of Dutch sport he could become a household name in the years ahead it’s a curse of the sport that so often we overhype young athletes but when it comes to what Neil’s laros is doing at his age there it really is not hyperbole because he is a very very special

Talent Christensen is trying his best to close in and you can see laros is certainly hurting MC Griggs looks to have a lock on the bronze medal at the moment possibly leading ear into silver if some of their athletes come through they might just challenge for gold J

Stafford is up to 12 n Murphy in seventh but now Neil’s laros is on the final run to the Finish only a couple hundred meters to run from here it’s downhill as you can see there he is using the best ground he is taking that wider line to

Make sure all that caliber all that power all that speed can be put into the surface and returned he checks behind him Christensen is raising a kick he is rising to the challenge here but I don’t think he’s going to be able to out kick this man there are not many athletes or

Can he he is drawing up towards Neil L Ros does laros have another GE he’s going to need it Axel van Christensen this will be an amazing upset and axel van and Christensen has turned over the favorite the Great Dane regains the title in Brussels wow there is no other word for

It talk about mind over matter that was fantastic Greggs comes home for a brilliant bronze for Ireland and Ireland doing well in the team Race by the way we’ll update you on that as quickly as we can but that is one of the most spectacular cross country SE finishes

I’ve seen in many a year unbelievable yeah you see it there the replay laros saw him coming that’s not going to be an excuse I think the legs were just gone and they had been sacked and this is like we talked about that first two to three kilometers by Axel van Christensen

That’s where they finally came off I’m sure Axel van christens I was running into that last 800 met would have thought I’m not going to out kick this man probably but the damage he did early he had put the sludge in Neil loss’s legs and that’s where it paid off

Well Fitzgerald has really poured it on the last couple of minutes she’s added another 20 or 30 m to that Gap back to Lor who’s in danger of being caught now you can see there right a picture the gold vest of Vice of Germany closing down on Lor toas and struggling at the

Moment back in fourth place but Fitzgerald is away coached by Gavin Pavey and if that surname is familiar to you well of course he’s the husband of a Joe baby European champion at 10,000 m a great race of from 1500 to the Marathon distance internationally for the last 20

25 years Joey but Gavin pavy down in the west country of southwest of England done a fabulous job to get in as Fitzgerald prepared for this fourth last year at the age of 16 and she’s storming away now as she hears that Bell Cal for the final lap 1250 she goes through what

Is the gap back to Second yeah 11 seconds and it’s only extending I’d be surprised that that doesn’t double over the next lap because in his for Gerald is moving faster now than it looks like she’s moved at any point in the race it continues to grow that Gap she is seven

For seven in cross country races this year and bearing Calamity over this last 13400 met in his fist Jerald is going to be8 for8 and a European under 20 Champion the extra athlete is putting on an exhibition but it is still Lor in second Vice hanging on to third it’s

Going to be a great dust up for the minor medals between Vice togerson and Lor as we see Britain in firm command of the team Race with three in the top 11 Ireland looked to be in second but we’ll get those once three athletes go through for each team we’ll have the official

Standings but one lap to run but listen to the screaming and the yelling the passion in cross country is off the chart and rightly so here in the Belgian Capital as Ena Fitzgerald of Great Britain heads towards the Finish Line it has been a majestic dominant determined run for this first gold of

The day she will be crowned European under 20 cross country Champion quite brilliant running from the young for the young athlete from exiter she takes the win there unofficially in 1820 and the Gap behind her is massive but who’s going to get the minor medals the battle

Continues togus it is who fought through really determined running from the Dane she’s going to take second place we bit what about 1838 her time get unofficially and L does get reward that brilliant chasing she’s the only athlete who lived with Fitz Joel through the

First half of the race she comes home in about 1850 and vice the cruelest position of all fourth there just a few seconds down yeah six British winners of this race in the past Steph 12 Charlotte Purdue Charlotte Dale Amelia gka Harriet Noles Jones and Megan Keith and to that

List we can add a magnificent seventh in his Fitzgerald putting on a show here at l park in Brussels to like lead the whole way and then to come out on top was definitely something I wanted um and from last year leading at the beginning and then coming with fourth was

Definitely not not what I wanted so yeah really really pleased with this year’s performance yeah I think racing experience is what you need um and just the confidence to know that you can pull through and you don’t need to go out and Destroy everyone in the first um few

Laps of the course and just you can wait hold it and then push on in the later stages which yeah is what I did today and I’m really happy with that