Innes FitzGerald produced another characteristic front running performance as she won her third successive women's U20 title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa on Sunday (14).
Just as she had in Brussels 2023 and Antalya 2024, FitzGerald took the race by the scruff of the neck, taking the lead in the early stages and running away from a class field.
In completing a hat-trick of victories, she emulated fellow British athlete Steph Twell who won this same race in San Giorgio su Legnano 2006, Toro 2007 and Brussels 2008.
In summary:
- Innes FitzGerald front runs to another title
- Surprise silver for Lucie Paturel
- Great Britain win 19th team title
How the race unfolded...
In the initial charge up the hill saw Sweden's Carmen Cernjul lead the pack with FitzGerald in close attendance. The British athlete had to weave her way through the to the front on the opening lap, but once she got there she pressed the pace.
Germany's world and European mountain running U20 champion Julia Ehrle made a brave bid to stay with FitzGerald, but eventually had to yield to the inevitable and dig in to fight for silver.
By halfway it was already clear that FitzGerald was not going to falter and the battle for the remaining medals would be between Cernjul, Ehrle, Irish duo Anna Gardiner and Emma Hickey, Edige Yagiz of Türkiye and France's Lucie Paturel.
Ehrle and Cernjul began to pay for their early ambition as the Irish athletes began to press hard, with Yagiz also beginning to flourish. But on the last lap, Paturel - competing in her first major championships - burst clear to take grip on silver.
Meanwhile. FitzGerald relentlessly moved further away, winning gold in 14:35 with Paturel taking a surprise silver in 15:07 and Hickey holding on for bronze in 15:10. Yagiz and Ehrle faded to 5th and 10th respectively. FitzGerald's winning margin of 32 seconds is an event record.
The team title went to Great Britain for the 19th time in 28 editions. Beth Lewis (12th) and Isabel Holt (20th) both offering sufficient support to FitzGerald in the pack. Spain took silver and Sweden collected bronze.
What they said
Innes FitzGerald: "I kind of wanted to progress it as the laps went on, because I knew that a bit of a hilly course was going to make it a bit tough, and especially being quite soft under the feet. But the start was faster than I thought it was going to be.
"I worked my way up to the front and then just laid it on, tried to progress it from there. This medal is incredible. It is so nice to come back every year. The atmosphere at this event is amazing and that is what I love about the cross country. There is that team element as well, so there is always girls behind you supporting you, and that is what brings me back every year."
Lucie Paturel: "It was a really big surprise! It's my favourite type of course and surface, so I benefitted a lot from it. This big achievement comes from a long preparation. I started to think about this European Cross Country since last March. I did a lot of long runs, I used hilly and gravel roads to increase my chances and it paid off. This will be a motivation to keep me evolving in this sport as it will be the support of my training colleagues."
Emma Hickey: "I am only 16 so every athlete was older than me, I did not want to have high expectations, but I wanted to do well, just did not want to say it out loud, because I did not know if it was possible, but since the second lap I started I felt strong so I went for it.
“I did start it fast but I was not sure if I was going to be able to hold it the whole race, I thought they were going to kick at the last lap but everyone was feeling the same, so I managed to keep the pace and get the medal.
“It was my first proper season and I got to finish it like this...I think I am in better shape right now than how I was the rest of the season and I hope next season is even better and I can improve my times and everything, but it has definitely been a great way to end the season.”