LISBON, Portugal – It was just two weeks ago that the trio of Irish superstar runners Stephanie Cotter, Eilish Flanagan and Roisin Flanagan anchored the women's team to a National Championship, sweeping the podium and dominating the field for Adams State University's phenomenal Women's Cross country team. Now, they look to cap off a historic cross country season as all three are set to represent their home country of Ireland in the European U23 Cross Country Championships.
 
It was Cotter who took home the crown as the best female collegiate Cross Country Runner in the United States two weeks ago, as she shattered the Division II record in the 6K by 46 seconds and won the national title. She now takes her talents back to her home continent, to see if she can assert herself as the best amateur runner in Europe as well. For Cotter, the 2019 cross country season has been one of the best that any runner in history has ever had. She has as good of a chance as any to take home the crown at the U23 Championships.
 
Although taking second place at the national championships two weeks ago, Eilish Flanagan also broke the women's 6K record in NCAA Division II with her performance. Eilish won the Paul Short Run back on October 5^th, breaking the course record at Lehigh University in doing so. She had nothing short of a dominant season in 2019, staying healthy and becoming one of the Grizzlies' finest that they have ever had. Eilish came in second place in the 3000M Steeplechase over the summer at the European U23 Track & Field Championships, and hopes to replicate similar success in her race on Sunday in Lisbon
 
Eilish's sister Roisin has been there alongside her every step of the way since the two came to Adams State in 2015. She has been a major player in the numerous team national titles she has won in her time as a Grizzly, and astonishingly, also broke the 6K performance record two weeks ago. She has been incredibly solid in leading her team in 2019, battling through injuries to get back to an elite level. She has as good of a chance as any to have success at the U23 Championships on Sunday.
 
The girls are prepared to race on Sunday, December 8^th from Lisbon, Portugal at the European U23 Cross Country Championships at what will be 6:30 PM Mountain Standard Time. Live stream for the event will be available at https://athletics.eurovisionsports.tv/.