By Clay Shaw Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell
12.10.2023 Brussels, Belgium—Megan Keith of Inverness, Scotland and Great Britain won the U23 race by the largest margin in SPAR European Cross Country Championships history, 1:23. She won this 7000-meter race in 25:32. Keith won gold in the U20 race in Dublin, Ireland in 2021 and was second to Nadia Battocletti in the U23 race in Turin, Italy in 2022.
Ilona Mononen was second in 26:55, and Nathalie Blomqvist was third in 27:06, as Finland earned the final two podium spots. Angela Viciosa of Spain was fourth in 27:08. California Baptist University runner Greta Karinauskaite of Lithuania was fifth in 27:13.
After the race, Keith had this to say:
“I was conscious that it was going to be a long 7km in the mud. So, I didn’t want to overdo it at the start. I wasn’t expecting to finish the first lap on a gap; I was hoping that I would have a pack with me. When I realized I was alone I thought, “I am going to commit to this.” I committed and it paid off today,” said the happy Keith.
Top Finishers
25:32 Megan Keith, Great Britain
26:55 Ilona Mononen, Finland
27:06 Nathalie Blomqvist, Finland
27:08 Angela Viciosa, Spain
27:13 Greta Karinauskaite, Lithuania
27:21 Maria Forero, Spain
27:21 Jana Van Lent, Belgium
27:24 Danielle Donegan, Ireland
27:29 Emmy Van Den Berg, Netherlands
27:34 Yasna Petrova, Bulgaria
27:37 Alexandra Millard, Great Britain
27:38 Ina Halle Haugen, Norway
27:40 Amina Maatoug, Netherlands
27:57 Lisa Merkel, Germany
28:03 Eloise Walker, Great Britain
28:06 Anneke Vortmeier, Germany
28:10 Manon Cumy, France
28:15 Olimpia Breza, Poland
28:17 Shirley Lang, Switzerland
28:19 Mia Jurenka, Germany
Top Five Teams
Great Britain and NI
Germany
Spain
France
Netherlands
Megan Keith of Great Britain is all smiles as she easily wins the U23 7000 meter race in 25:32.
Megan Keith of Great Britain is a happy gal as she jumps after photographers request. Keith is from Scotland (I needed to point that out for our East Kilbride Athletic Club friends.)
The Great Britain women swept all three team events.
I’ve got Sisu. Ilona Mononen of Finland takes second in 26:55.
Finland gals embrace after taking the second and third place medals.
Ilona Mononen (left) was second in 26:55 and Nathalie Blomqvist was third in 27:06.
Yasna Petrova of Bulgaria was tenth in 27:34. Petrova was the second California Baptist University runner in the top ten.
Call the Finns for U23 medals. Ilona Mononen was second and Nathalie Blomqvist was third. Spain’s Angela Viciosa (red) was fourth.
The eyes have it. Megan Keith is likely checking the large video board at one end of the venue as she starts her final lap.
Megan Keith of Inverness, Scotland and Great Britain led from the start and won by 1 minute and 23 seconds.
Grete Karinauskaite of Lithuania was fifth in 27:13. Grete was 17th in the NCAA race; she runs for California Baptist University.
Nusa Mali of Slovenia and Emma D’Henne of Belgium run through a very muddy section of the inner loop.
Ilona Mononen of Finland fronts the pack that was chasing Megan Keith in the U23 race. Mononen finished second.
Emmy Van Den Berg and Amina Maatoug of Netherlands were 9th in 27:29 and 13th in 27:40.
Megan Keith of Great Britain just destroyed the field, winning by the largest margin ever at a Euro XC race. (1:23).
U23 women lead pack chasing Megan Keith. Olimpia Breza of Poland, Eloise Walker of Great Britain, Ilona Mononen of Finland, Jana Van Lent of Belgium and Alexandra Millard of Great Britain.
U23 Team France.
U23 Team Belgium. Jana Van Lent was seventh overall.
Sarah Peerik of Netherlands races with Mari Rudd of Norway in the U23 7000 meter race.
Emmy Van den Berg of Netherlands placed ninth. Racers Olimpia Breza of Poland placed 18th and Eloise Walker of Great Britain was 15th.
Nathalie Blomqvist of Finland racing towards the bronze medal in the U23 race.
Thais Paris of France trudges through heavy mud. Paris was 29th.
Nathalie Blomqvist of Finland who placed third, leads Jana Van Lent of Belgium and Marta Forero of Spain.
Shirley Lang of Switzerland was 19th, Camille Laurent of France was 21st, Mari Rudd of Norway was 26th, as they lead a secondary pack.
Runner's Gazette 
Leave a comment