SPAR European Cross Country Championships

This year’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships holds special significance as it marks the 30th edition of the event, which debuted in 1994 and has been held annually ever since, except in 2020 due to the pandemic.

For the first time in its history, Türkiye will host the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, making Antalya the southernmost venue for the event over its three-decade journey.

The championships will take place at Dokuma Park, located in northern Antalya. Athletes will face a challenging course that, while mostly flat, features rhythm-breaking sections of sand and mud on each lap, adding an extra layer of difficulty for the runners.

At last year’s championships in Brussels, held under muddy conditions, Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal claimed her third consecutive title, while France’s Yann Schrub took gold in the senior men’s race. Great Britain & Northern Ireland once again topped the medal table, winning seven gold medals.

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be streamed live in full on December 8 via the European Athletics website, complete with expert English-language commentary.