Olympic finalist Niels Laros is amongst a trio of talented young dutchmen that have added their names to the Cardiff Cross Challenge entries for 9 November.
Laros heads the contingent as the European U20 1500m record holder (3:29:54), erasing the previous mark held by Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the biggest of stages, in the final of the 1500m at the Olympic Games, finishing sixth. Laros who has been dubbed ‘Europe’s Fastest Teenager’ is also a twice European U20 Champion and was second at the Spar European U20 Cross Country Championships in Brussels last December.
He is joined by Stefan Nillessen who is the 2023 European U23 Champion and current Dutch Champion over 1500m, finishing ninth at the Olympics. Robin Van Riel will also be racing and was the Dutch Champion over 1500m in 2023.
Their inclusion means that they will join countrymen Juan Zijderlaan and Tim Verbaandert.
They will face competition from the Burundian pairing of Celstin Ndikumana who was the winner of Cross Internacional Zornotza last year and Emile Hafashimana.
Additionally Uganda’s Dan Kibet, 2023 winner Keneth Kiprop and Vincent Mutai of Kenya will all be chasing victory in Cardiff.
Zak Mahamed and Osian Perrin currently head the domestic challenge.