*Updated 3.12.2022

Last year’s European cross country silver medallist (U23), Darragh McElhinney, will spearhead a strong looking U23 team following his superb performance at nationals at the weekend which saw the Cork athlete claim his first senior cross country title. The Glengarrif star will line up alongside fellow European cross country medallist Efrem Gidey (U20 bronze in 2019), as well as Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley) and Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers) who were both part of last year's U23 gold-medal-winning team at Fingal-Dublin 2021.

This year’s squad also includes two of last year’s U20 silver-medal-winning team members in Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) and Dean Casey (Ennis Track) who will lead out yet another strong looking Irish U20 team.

The senior women’s team will see Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC), Roisin Flanagan (Finn Valley AC), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC), and Aoibhe Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) join Eilish Flanagan (Finn Valley)  and Michelle Finn (Leevale) in what looks a stacked senior race where Ireland will look to better last year’s agonising 4th place finish.

The senior men’s team also came close to medalling in 2021 (4 points off bronze) and they will look to the in-form Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock) to provide yet another of his now trademark gritty displays in his bid for another European top-10 finish.

Hiko Tonosa Haso (Dundrum South Dublin) looked backed to his best at nationals on Sunday and the experienced duo can expect plenty of backup from the quality quartet of Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers), Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers), Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers), and Irish indoor 5,000m record holder Barry Keane (Waterford AC) who all look to be peaking at the right time. 

Sunday’s national senior champions Sarah Healy (UCD AC) and Darragh McElhinney will lead the charge for the Irish U23 teams in Italy with the classy McElhinney sure to have eyes on the medals once again.

The men’s U23 race looks to have plenty of depth throughout however, so it will have to be another career best from the UCD athlete to get among the podium places. A strong team showing can be expected and McElhinney is sure to have Gidey and Kilrehill for company as the race hots up.

Irish fans can expect to see Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers), Thomas McStay (Galway City Harriers), and Shay McEvoy (Kilkenny City Harriers) all staying on at the finish as they look to eek out every last position.

The women’s U23 won’t be found lacking for championships experience with Danielle Donegan (UCD AC), Laura Mooney (Tullamore Harriers), Aoife Ó'Cuill (St Coca’s AC), and Jodie McCann (Dublin City Harriers) sure to work together in a bid to back up an attempt from Sarah Healy to better her excellent 5th place finish from Final-Dublin last December. Niamh O'Mahoney (An Ríocht AC) makes her championship debut following an excellent 2022 season.

The men’s U20 team looks particularly strong and recent rivals Griggs and Casey are sure to go with the leading pack from the gun. Jonas Stafford (Ashford AC) looked in the form of his life in taking the bronze medal in the U20 race in Rosapenna at the weekend, while Sean McGinley (Finn Valley), Callum Morgan (St. Malachy's AC), and Mark Hanrahan (Ennis Track) should head into December 11th full of confidence given recent performances.

Anika Thompson (Leevale AC) made the long trip from Oregon to Donegal at the weekend all the more worthwhile in taking the U20 women’s title impressively. Thompson will head an exciting women’s U20 team with Roise Roberts (North Belfast Harriers) and Jane Buckley (Leevale AC) back for another bite at the European U20 race following encouraging performances at the grade last year.

Anna Gardiner (East Down AC), Hannah Kehoe (Kilkenny City Harriers), and Fiona Hawkins (Dublin City Harriers) complete another young and exciting team.

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships is one of the main seasonal appointments of the European Athletics calendar and is hosted by Italy for the fourth time after the editions of Ferrara in 1998, San Giorgio su Legnano in 2006 and Chia in 2016. Piemonte 2022  follows the edition of Fingal-Dublin last December which saw Ireland claim 3 medals (2 team and 1 individual), topped off with team gold in the men’s Under-23 race.

SELECTIONS:

Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate all of our athletes and their coaches who have been selected for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships on December 11th. We are very proud of you all and look forward to cheering you on as you represent us once more.

We must also acknowledge the great work and effort our members, coaches, volunteers, and the wider athletics community has put in to support our athletes in attaining selection for these championships. We all look forward to roaring on #TeamGreen as the first races commence on December 11th.

• 123.ie National Cross Country Championships Report (20.11.2022): Click HERE
•  SPAR European Cross Country Championships Official Website & Timetable HERE