By Clay Shaw Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell
12.10.23 Brussels, Belgium—Alexis Miellet of France has performed magic before at European Cross Country, but this time he took the handoff 58 seconds down. He caught Bram Anderiessen of Netherlands and then Great Britain’s Khahisa Mhlanga. Teams could start with either a man or a woman and finish with either as well. Ms. Mhlanga had the lead for Great Britain for the final lap and was passed by French and Dutch male runners. She did hold off Italy, as Great Britain earned the bronze team medal.
Alexis Miellet took France from fourth to second in Turin 2021 and took France from fourth to third in Lisbon 2019.
The Mixed Relay is a 6000 meter race with two men and two women making up a team. Each athlete runs one 1500 meter loop.
Team Results
19:44 France
19:46 Netherlands
19:48 Great Britain
20:06 Italy
20:15 Belgium
20:24 Hungary
20:27 Poland
20:44 Spain
21:00 Czech Republic
21:04 Slovenia
21:44 Ukraine
22:59 Andorra
Mixed Relay start. Teams had the option of starting with men or women.
Zaid Audiah of Belgium and Joshua Lay of Great Britain led lap 1 of the 4×1500 mixed relay.
Lili Anna Vindics-Toth was the first runner to race for Hungary. The team placed sixth.
Bethan Morley of Great Britain races lap 2 of the mixed relay.
Ukraine athlete Viktoriia Shkurko in action on the muddy course at Laeken Park in Brussels.
The Laeken Park course had its share of bad corners; this was one of them. Athletes from Great Britain, Netherlands, and Belgium round the corner carefully.
Gaia Sabbatini of Italy. Italy was the defending mixed relay team from 2022. They were fourth in 2023.
Sarah Madeleine of France runs a solid lap as the team went on to win.
Khahisa Mhlanga of Great Britain trudges trough the mud at the start of the final lap of the mixed relay.
Athletes from Hungary and Belgium take off for the final lap of the mixed relay.
Alexis Miellet of France gets the handoff from Sarah Madeleine, as he took off 58 seconds down.
Alexis Miellet of France had to make up 58 seconds on the lap and chase down a male runner from Netherlands and a woman from Great Britain.
Alexis Miellet of France salutes the French fans as he made up 58 seconds to give France the Mixed Relay Championship.
Alexis Miellet of France ran an epic final lap to win gold for Team France. Bram Anderissen of Netherlands was second and Great Britain was third with Khahisa Mhlanga.
France won gold and they were overjoyed.
We jump for gold. Team France is the 2023 European Cross Country Champions – mixed relay.
Runner's Gazette 
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