by Clay Shaw Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell
The 29th edition of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships will take place in Laeken Park, just under the shadow of the giant Atomium* in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday, December 10th. There will be seven epic races with the U20 5000 meter race starting the afternoon. The mixed relay 4×1500 meters is next, followed by the U23 7000 meter races. The racing concludes with the senior races going last at the 9000 meter distance. Rain is expected and mud is assured, along with great competition. 35 countries and over 500 athletes are here.
Enjoy our photos from today at the course, and in the Atomium for the press conference. This is our fifth European XC starting with Tilburg (NED), Lisbon (POR), Dublin (IRE), and Turin (ITA). Several of the younger athletes compete for USA colleges. Look for our coverage Sunday night and through next week.
Typically, the day before the meet, athletes are doing an easy run, checking out the course, and posing for photos.
* The Atomium is seen in some of our photos; it looks like an enormous silver atom. It was originally constructed as the centerpiece of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair as a tribute to scientific progress and to symbolize Belgian engineering skills at the time. It was intended to be temporary, only for the 1958 World’s Fair. But the people of Brussels loved it, and it became a symbol of the city, and so it remained. It was renovated from 2004 – 2006. Today it serves as a museum, art center, and a cultural destination.
As we attended the Euro XC press conference, we were able to note that the Atomium was jam-packed with visitors on this Saturday.
29th edition of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships are set for 12.10.2023 in Brussels.
Megan Keith of Great Britain was the European U23 5000 meter champion and the 2021 Euro XC U20 champion in Dublin.
Chloe Herbiet of Belgium was the 2023 Belgian XC champion and won the Eindhoven Marathon in 2:27:54.
Isaac Kimeli of Belgium is the 2023 Belgium XC champion and was the 2022 Euro XC bronze medalist in Turin.
Niels Laros of Netherlands is the U20 1500 meter and 5000 meter champion and a world 1500 meter finalist in Budapest.
Press conference with European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov with the featured athletes: Chloe Herbiet and Isaac Kimeli of Belgium, Megan Keith of Great Britain, and Niels Laros of Netherlands. (Photo by Clay Shaw)
Runners from the Czech Republic tour the European XC 2023 course. (Photo by Clay Shaw)
Team from Greece (Hellas) pose at the finish line after the course inspection. (Photo by Clay Shaw)
Athletes from Netherlands check out the start straight and hill as the Atomium looms in the background. (Photo by Clay Shaw)
Two runners from Slovakia are ready for European XC.
The only jumps on the course feature upside down brooms, maybe from Flanders Brush Makers?
Team Germany inspects the course just before the rain.
The East Kilbride guys with Scottish runners Megan Keith, Elouise Walker, and Lynn McKenna
Team Ireland should feel at home with a climate similar to Belgium.
Two Irish runners on the Brussels course at Laeken Park.
Team Spain testing the leafy and muddy course at Laeken Park.
Team Portugal in green and red, along with two runners from Finland.
Runners from Poland say hi to the Runner’s Gazette photographer.
Team Portugal running by the flags, including their own at left.
Ireland women test the Euro XC course at Laeken Park.
Runner from Turkey gives RG photographer a big smile.
Runners from Spain (Espana) always have a good time.
Runner's Gazette 
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