The final entries for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Samorin, Slovakia on 10 December are available to view here.
A record 576 athletes representing 37 nations are set to compete in this year's edition of the annual championships. The men's U20 race has attracted the largest entry-list with 111 athletes from 31 countries set to compete.
Türkiye claimed the individual male and female senior titles in Chia twelve months ago and Aras Kaya and Yasemin Can will be defending their titles in Samorin. Can will be aiming to become just the second athlete in championship history to claim back-to-back titles in the senior women’s race.
Seven of the top eight finishers from the senior women’s race in Chia will be on the start-line in Samorin including former two-time champion Fionnuala McCormack from Ireland, who is set to make her record 15th appearance at the European Cross Country Championships.
For the first time in a championships, all three Ingebrigtsen brothers have been named on the same Norwegian team. Jakob will defend his U20 title while older brothers Filip and Henrik will be competing in the senior men’s race.
Reigning two-time U20 champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen from Germany will step up into the U23 ranks alongside teammate Alina Reh while the men’s U23 race features Spain’s Carlos Mayo and Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa, the silver and bronze medallists from Chia twelve months ago.
With Klosterhalfen no longer eligible for the U20 race, Switzerland’s Delia Sclabas, 17, begins as the arguable favourite. She claimed a 1500/3000m double at the European Athletics U18 Championships in 2016 and the 3000m title at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Grosseto this year.
For the first time in the history of the European Cross Country Championships, the programme includes a mixed relay event. The Brits have named a particularly strong line-up with Charlie Grice and Sarah McDonald among the standout names
Live streaming of the European Cross Country Championships will be available on the European Athletics website from 8.45am local time on 10 December.