The road to the Lagoa 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships began in earnest on Sunday (19) as several of Europe’s leading distance runners tested their early-season form at the Cross Internacional Zornotza in Amorebieta, Spain, the first Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
While victories went to Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw and Burundi’s Emile Hafashimana, Europe’s top contenders also made their presence felt as they fine-tune preparations for Lagoa 2025 on 14 December.
Portugal’s Mariana Machado signalled her intent for a big season ahead. The 24-year-old — fifth in the senior women’s race at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships — attacked her 8.7km season opener with purpose, confidently setting the pace through the opening kilometres.
Machado led a tightly packed front group that included Spain’s Majida Maayouf and Naima Ait Alibou, while pre-race favourite Likina Amebaw bided her time. With 3km remaining, the Ethiopian unleashed a blistering surge that shattered the pack, storming clear to retain her Zornotza title in 30:21.
Machado held her form brilliantly to take second place, just 21 seconds adrift, reaffirming her growing stature among Europe’s elite. Ait Alibou completed the podium a further 14 seconds back, as the continent’s leading women laid down early markers ahead of December’s championships.
Hassaous cheers home crowds
The men’s 8.7km race was a fast, aggressive contest from the gun. Making his Spanish debut, Burundi’s Emile Hafashimana went straight to the front, clocking an opening kilometre of 2:56 to build an early gap.
Behind him, Spain’s Nassim Hassaous — seventh at the 2023 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Brussels — ran a measured, tactical race. Working alongside compatriot Yahya Aouina, he gradually closed in on the leader over the final laps.
A rousing finish saw Hassaous cut the deficit to just two seconds, crossing the line in 25:52 for a spirited second place, with Aouina completing a strong day for the host nation in third (26:03).
With Machado, Ait Alibou, Hassaous, and Aouina all showing sharp form, the Iberian nations' charge toward Lagoa 2025 has begun in style.