Innes FitzGerald, Will Barnicoat: British Team Announced for the 2025 European Cross Country Championships

With one month to go until the 2025 European Cross Country Championships, the British team once again arrives with serious ambitions. Blending established champions with young talents already well-versed in continental competition, the squad will travel to Lagoa, Portugal, aiming not only to challenge for top honours but to dominate the medal table yet again. Britain’s recent supremacy in the U20 and U23 categories naturally places its athletes among the overwhelming favourites, with several chasing a third consecutive individual title. After strong performances in Liverpool and on the international circuit, confidence is high.

British team 2025 euro xc champs — *The British team crowned U23 European champions last year (© British Athletics)*

A History of Greatness: Britain, Masters of the European Cross Country Championships

For nearly a decade, the European Cross Country Championships have been a stage of remarkable success for British athletes. The event has acted as both a proving ground and a springboard for future middle-distance stars, thanks to the exceptional depth running through the younger age groups. Britain’s medal haul in recent years—particularly in the U20 and U23 divisions—has cemented the nation as the benchmark of European endurance running. The repeated triumphs of athletes such as Innes FitzGerald, Will Barnicoat and Megan Keith are proof of this near-structural strength.

In both Brussels in 2023 and Antalya in 2024, British squads dominated proceedings, collecting six gold medals—an outstanding return considering the second-best nation managed just five medals in total. As a result, athletes graduating to the senior ranks arrive fully accustomed to pressure, race management and international podiums. The 2025 edition in Lagoa continues this momentum and even adds extra incentive: the championships will double as a selection trial for the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, raising the stakes for both seniors and U20s. It will be an ideal early test against the best—though, at the Worlds, the arrival of East African powerhouses will inevitably reduce European medal hopes.

The race itself promises high drama. A far cry from the flatter, muddier course used for the British trials in Liverpool, the Lagoa route features technical climbs, sandy sections circling an artificial lake, and multiple natural obstacles. Adaptability will be key. Once again, Britain appears perfectly equipped: versatility is practically woven into the DNA of British cross-country runners.

Success alone is not fuelling the optimism—the momentum within the system is just as encouraging. Coaches and federation leaders regularly reference the strength of the national pathway, the coherence of the development model, and the vital role of cross country in shaping all-round athletes. Team leader Sarah Benson summed it up: “We are proud of our rich history in this championship. This event remains a cornerstone of our endurance pathway.”

A Deep, Ambitious Squad Led by Proven Performers :

Seniors: Beattie, Hughes, Keith and Leonard Ready to Lead

In the women’s senior team, all eyes will be on Megan Keith—European U23 champion in 2023 and fourth at the prestigious Cross Internacional de Atapuerca only weeks ago. She skipped the Liverpool trials to test herself against a world-class field, sending a clear message: she is ready to take on Europe’s elite, led by reigning champion Nadia Battocletti.

Alongside her, Cari Hughes arrives in peak form after a commanding win in Liverpool, while Abbie Donnelly—European medallist in 2023 and fresh off a 2:24 marathon in Frankfurt—continues to epitomise consistency. The transition to the senior ranks of Phoebe Anderson, 2024 European U23 champion, adds further intrigue. The Londoner may be new to the top category, but she already has the stamina and temperament for major championships.

In the men’s squad, Scott Beattie—winner in Liverpool—and Rory Leonard, his training partner and British 10km road record-holder, will spearhead the team. Beattie will look to carry his momentum into a Worlds qualification bid, while Leonard, ever reliable, knows exactly what it takes on the big stage. Joe Hudson and Calum Johnson bolster a robust line-up.

Youth Looking to Shine: FitzGerald and Barnicoat Chase Another Title

No British team list would be complete without mentioning double European U20 individual champion—and twice team champion—Innes FitzGerald. Still only 19, she dominated the Liverpool trials with an authority that suggests a third straight title is firmly within reach, such is her superiority both on the country and on the track.

In the U23 men’s field, Will Barnicoat is targeting his own hat-trick of titles, having the rare distinction of also being a former U20 European champion. The Brit may well complete an unprecedented four-title sweep across categories, given the margin he still seems to hold over the rest of the continent.

One of the most exciting emerging prospects is 16-year-old Beth Lewis. Winner of the U17 race in Liverpool and twice runner-up behind FitzGerald already this season, she embodies Britain’s precocious new wave. Her selection for the U20 squad underlines the enormous confidence placed in her.

The mixed relay will also be a major weapon: Holly Dixon and Jack Higgins—winners of the short course in Cardiff—are joined by Ava Lloyd and the experienced Callum Elson.