Luke Micallef and Gabriel Farrugia Set for European Cross Country Challenge

Malta will be represented by Luke Micallef and Gabriel Farrugia at the Lagoa 2025 European Cross Country Championships, taking place on Sunday, 14 December in Portugal. The pair will line up against some of Europe’s strongest distance runners in what promises to be a highly competitive edition of the continental event.

Micallef heads to Lagoa in excellent form, having recently set a new Masters O35 Half-Marathon National Record in Ravenna with an impressive 1:04:57. The seasoned athlete will contest the men’s Senior 7.5km race, marking his third consecutive appearance at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. He will face formidable opposition, including 10,000m World Champion Jimmy Gressier and Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu, the reigning European 10,000m champion.

Rising star Gabriel Farrugia will compete in the U23 men’s 6km race after a strong start to the national road running league, winning its opening two events. Lagoa 2025 will be his fifth straight appearance at Europe’s premier cross country competition, underscoring his consistency and commitment. The U23 field features Great Britain’s Will Barnicoat, aiming for a rare hat-trick of titles, alongside European U23 champions Stefan Nillessen, Joel Ibler Lillesø, and Maciej Megier. Ireland’s Nick Griggs will also be chasing his first gold after multiple podium finishes.

This year’s championships, the 31st edition, will welcome 644 athletes from 36 federations. Hosted in the scenic Lagoa Urban Park, the largely flat course includes demanding stretches of sand and mud, setting the stage for an exciting showcase of Europe’s top endurance talent.

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