Spain’s Playas de Castellon have named a strong quartet as they look to defend the mixed relay title at the ECCC Cross Country in Albufeira, Portugal on Sunday (2).
Meanwhile, the U20 races feature several fine European prospects with blossoming championship reputations for the event which is being streamed live on the European Athletics website from 9.55am local time with English-language commentary courtesy of Eurovision Sport.
Quality quartet for Playa de Castellon
In the mixed relay which covers four laps totalling 6.13km, Playa de Castellon have entered a stellar line up for Sunday’s race. It includes Abderrahman El Khayami, the only returning member of last year’s victorious team.
His team mates consist of Uganda's Winnie Nanyondo, seventh in the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 1500m, José Ignacio Pérez, who has represented Spain at the European U23, U20 and U18 level and Isabel Linares, a 4:23.12 1500m runner at her best.
Representing the host nation challenge, Sport Lisboa e Benfica include Salomé Afonso, eighth in the women’s 1500m at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships and Isaac Nader, semi-finalist in the men’s 1500m at the Paris Olympics.
Last year’s runners up, Decines Meyzieu Athletisme of France are sure to contend again. They include Anaëlle Guillonnet, who finished 36th in the women’s U23 race at the Turin 2022 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
Yağiz spearheads Fenerbahce medal bid
This event provides a unique international opportunity for scores of U20 club athletes, with 35 club teams representing 17 countries.
In the women’s U20 race, Türkiye’s Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu will be seeking to defend the team title. They will be led by Edibe Yağiz, who was runner up in the individual race twelve months ago and 14th in the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships two months ago.
Women’s U20 silver medallists Atletica Arcs Cus Perugia of Italy return to the fray with a new quartet. Whilst France’s Clermont Auvergne, bronze medallist last year are also entered with May-Lise Olivier, looking to improve on her 16th place in the individual race.
Spanish giants Playas de Castellón are again sure to be to the forefront and have a strong individual contender in Nadia Soto, bronze medallist in the 2000m steeplechase at the Banska Bystrica 2024 European Athletics U18 Championships.
Tunç seeking medal upgrade
The top three teams in last year’s men’s U20 races are set to resume battle again. Winners Playas de Castellón are back to mount a title defence. The only surviving member of last year’s team though is Adrian Moscardo, who will be keen to improve on his 40th place finish from last year.
Individual winner Lionel Nihimbazwe led home Italy’s Toscana Atletica Jolly to men’s U20 team silver last year, but he has now moved on to the senior age group. The Italians can, however, call upon last year’s fifth placer Vittore Borromini.
The 17-year-old is a fine prospect, having also won silver in the men’s 3000m at the Banska Bystrica European Athletics U18 Championships last summer.
Arguably the pre-race favourite is Ali Tunç, who was individual bronze medallist last year, adding team bronze with Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu.
The Turkish international showed good form earlier this winter when placing seventh in the men’s U20 race on home turf at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships following on from his U20 win at the Balkan cross country championships in November.
Into the bargain, he set a Turkish U20 indoor 3000m record of 8:04.86 on Wednesday.
Both men’s and women’s U20 races take place over 5.62km distance.
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics