Luke Micallef and Gabriel Farrugia will represent Malta at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, on Sunday, 14 December 2025.
Luke Micallef, fresh from setting the Masters O35 Half-Marathon national record in Ravenna with a time of 1:04:57, will compete in the men’s Senior 7.5km race. This will be his third consecutive appearance at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Jimmy Gressier, the 10,000m World Champion, is the favourite, with Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu also expected to challenge.
Gabriel Farrugia will run in the U23 men’s 6km race. Farrugia has started the season strongly, winning the first two races of the national road running league. This will be his fifth consecutive appearance at the championships. Top competitors in his race include Great Britain’s Will Barnicoat, European U23 champions Stefan Nillessen, Joel Ibler Lillesø, Maciej Megier, and Ireland’s Nick Griggs.
The 31st SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be held in Lagoa, Portugal, for the fourth time. Around 644 athletes from 36 countries are expected to compete on a largely flat but occasionally sandy and muddy course in Lagoa Urban Park, promising an exciting display of European cross-country talent.
