SPAR European Cross Country Championships

SPAR European Cross Country Championships

This 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships was held in Antalya, Türkiye and marked the 30th edition of a championships which was added to the calendar in 1994. 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen maintained his unbeaten run at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, winning his seventh individual gold medal and his third senior gold medal, beating Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa who returned to the podium individually for the first time since 2019.

His teammate Nadia Battocletti made history by becoming the first woman in championship history to win individual titles across all three age-groups, the Roma 2024 5000m and 10,000m champion upgrading her 2023 silver medal from to gold in 2024. Additionally, there was also gold for Italy in the mixed relay.

Once again, Great Britain topped the medal table in Antalya. The British squad won three individual gold medals with Innes FitzGerald and Will Barnicoat defending their women's U20 and men's U23 titles with Phoebe Anderson making it a Great Britain U23 double by taking gold in the women's race in this age category.

After just missing out on U20 gold last year, 2024 European Athletics Rising Star Niels Laros from the Netherlands made amends by kicking to an expected victory in the men's U20 race.

Intriguingly, Great Britain have now won 199 medals in SPAR European Cross Country Championships history which means someone will have the honour of picking up their 200th medal at the 2025 edition which takes place in Lagoa, Portugal.