Spain’s Maria Forero will be aiming to upgrade to gold in the women’s U23 race at the Lagoa 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
Having claimed silver last year behind Great Britain’s Phoebe Anderson – who is stepping up to the senior ranks – the Spaniard arrives in Lagoa buoyed by a title-winning track season and encouraging cross-country form.
The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be streamed live on the European Athletics website from 9.00am local time (10.00am CET.)
She was a dominant winner of the 5000m at the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships during the summer.
And more recently, she was the leading European as she placed fifth in the senior women’s race at the Cross Internacional de Itálica – a World Athletics Cross Country Gold meeting – last month.
But with last year’s third- to sixth-place finishers all set to line up again in Lagoa intent on bettering their results from Antalya 2024, it promises to be a fascinating tussle.
Five to watch:
- Maria Forero (ESP)
- Ilona Mononen (FIN)
- Pia Schlattmann (GER)
- Marta Serrano (ESP)
- Sofia Thøgersen (DEN)
Key storylines
- Forero versus Mononen for gold?
- Schlattmann leads the German challenge
- Spanish eye team gold
- Thøgersen looking to add to medal haul
Forero, who won gold in the women’s U20 race in Turin in 2022, may begin as the favourite. But in Finland’s Ilona Mononen she faces a formidable challenger.
The 21-year-old 3000m steeplechaser enjoyed a brilliant summer, winning at the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships, the Bergen 2025 European Athletics U23 Championships and the World University Games. Bronze medallist last year in Antalya, she is known as an athlete who never gives up the chase.
Pia Schlattmann was fourth last year in Antalya and arrives in strong form after securing bronze in the senior women’s race at the recent German Cross Country Championships.
In neighbouring Portugal, the Spanish team will benefit from familiar conditions, which should help fuel a strong push for the team podium. Forero is supported by a powerful line-up, including Marta Serrano, who claimed silver in the 3000m steeplechase behind Mononen at Bergen 2025.
20-year-old Danish champion Sofia Thøgersen already boasts seven medals across European U18 and U20 track and cross-country championships and represents another serious threat. After failing to finish the 5000m at Bergen 2025, she will be determined to return to medal-winning form.
She won bronze in the U20 race at Antalya 2024 and silver the previous year in Brussels 2023.
What they said
Maria Forero: "You have to start with the idea of winning, or you’ll never do it."
Did you know?
Great Britain have won 12 of a possible 17 team titles in the women’s U23 race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships.