Team GB and NI select strong squad for Portuguese Championships

Battocletti became the first woman in championship history last year to win individual titles at U20, U23 and senior level. She looks primed to defend her title this year, but will face tough competition from Turkey’s Yasemin Can, although the 29-year-old is yet to find her earlier career form that saw her win four successive titles between 2016 and 2019.

Belgian Jana van Lent, Great Britain’s Megan Keith and Portugal’s Mariana Machado will all pose a threat to the title.

Jimmy Gressier has won golds in both the 10,000m at the World Championships and the half marathon at the European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven in 2025.

The world champion will be aiming to complete a set of three titles on three different surfaces this year in what will be his first appearance at the Cross Country Championships since 2021.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen was due to race for his fourth senior men’s title after winning gold in Antalya last December.

It’s been an injury-plagued 2025 season so far for the Norwegian, whose withdrawal this week came after previously announcing that he would return to competition where he made his debut as a 16 year-old.

Dominic Lobalu, of Switzerland, also poses a threat to Ingerbritsen’s title in the men’s race, with Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Ruben Querinjean of Luxembourg also in contention.