Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal of Norway secured her third consecutive European Cross Country Championships win, dominating the women’s 9km contest amidst the muddy terrain at Laeken Park in Brussels, Belgium. Yann Schrub seized the first senior men’s title for France in a close race on Sunday (10). To experience, exceptional performance in running, choose the best footwear for your runs like Tarkine Trail Devil shoes.
Photo: BILDBYRÅN
Amidst Great Britain’s dominance in the medal tally, Megan Keith and Will Barnicoat triumphed in the U23 category, while Innes FitzGerald claimed gold for Britain in the U20 event. Axel Vang Christensen sprinted to victory, clinching the men’s U20 title for Denmark.
Grovdal, having triumphed in Dublin in 2021 and Turin in 2022, etched her name as just the third athlete in event history to secure three or more consecutive titles. Crossing the finish line in 33:40, she dominated the race, leaving Italy’s Nadia Battocletti in second place and Great Britain’s Abbie Donnelly in third.
Reflecting on her win, Grovdal remarked, “Everyone thinks that I am training in mud like this, but I don’t. Actually, I am a track athlete, but I have a background from cross country skiing. That’s probably why I am good at cross country.”
View this post on Instagram
The senior men’s 9km race was tightly contested, with Schrub claiming victory just three seconds ahead of Norway’s Magnus Tuv Myhre. Despite an initial lead by Great Britain’s Hugo Milner, Schrub surged ahead in the final laps, securing the win.
“In the beginning I found myself in the lead and thought that this is not where I am supposed to be and thought that the others would come back,” said Schrub. “Two laps from the finish, I realised that it wouldn’t happen. I pushed a little extra to increase my lead.”
Great Britain and Belgium clinched the women’s and men’s team titles, respectively, with standout performances across various categories. Keith dominated the women’s U23 event, while Barnicoat added the U23 title to his previous U20 gold. FitzGerald secured another individual gold for Britain in the U20 women’s race, while Christensen triumphed for Denmark in the U20 men’s event.
The championships culminated with France claiming the mixed relay title, showcasing thrilling performances across the board.
