Something is going on as there is still not a Presser about the Men winning. Instead they have an article about the Men's Soccer team going into the MAAC Playoffs as the #1 seed. While this is good news our Men's X-C team has now won something like 30 in a row, MAAC titles.
P.S. Perhaps the SI Dept. has had to provide security for the Secret Scrimmage.
Somewhat disappointing 5th place finish. No surprise that Harvard & Syracuse beat them. Both very strong squads. A little surprising to get beat by Cornell & Providence. Just better teams today. Still a great effort.
For years Iona has been able to recruit runners from Ireland. And while many have been VG, I have no idea if they are the BEST Irish runners. And, by opening a campus in Ireland, will that help in X-C recruiting, as well as with other sports. Any opinions on this?
For years Iona has been able to recruit runners from Ireland. And while many have been VG, I have no idea if they are the BEST Irish runners. And, by opening a campus in Ireland, will that help in X-C recruiting, as well as with other sports. Any opinions on this?
For long and middle distance runners, Villanova probably had the deepest and longest recruitment of Irish runners. Then Arkansas ,Providence... next in the food chain, then Iona and East Tennessee State also reaching back to the Emerald Isle for athletes.
A few of the past greats at those schools. Villanova Ron Delaney - seventh person ever, to break 4:00 in the mile, broke the indoor mile record three times, Won the 1956 Olympic 1500-meter gold medal. Won three NCAA titles Eammon Coghlan - Chairman of the Boards set three world records for the indoor mile and won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games seven times between 1977 and 1987. 1983 5000-meter World Champion. Marcus O'Sullivan - three World Indoor 1500 meter Championships, won the WanamakerMile 6 times, broke the world indoor mile record a couple of times, and was a member of the Irish 4 x 1 mile relay team that still holds the standing world record for that event. Got to know him, great guy. Now Coach at Nova. Sonia O’Sullivan - The greatest female runner in Irish history. Silver Medal winner in the 2000 Olympics for the 5000m, 1995 5000m World Champ, World X-Country Championships 2X Gold medal winner. European champion in the 3000m, 5,000m and 10,000m John Hartnett - Sub 4 minute miler, NCAA indoor two-mile championship.
Providence John Treacy - world cross country champion in 1978 and 1979, Silver medalist in the Marathon in the 1984 Olympics. A five-time All American, a national champion in the three-mile. I knew him for a brief period and he was a great guy. Mark Carroll - six-time All-American and the 1995 NCAA indoor champion in the 5,000 meters. In cross country, he was the NCAA Championship runner-up in 1995 and placed third in 1992. A seven-time BIG EAST champion Ray Treacy - a three-time All-American, three-time Big East 5,000-meter winner. No coach at PC who won 15 NCAA titles, Mary Cullen - Six-time All-American, NCAA Champion, 2006 outdoor track 5,000 meters
East Tennessee State Ray Flynn - 1975 team member won the USA Track & Field Cross Country Championship. Ran a total of 89 sub-four minute miles, with his best time (and current Irish mile record) of 3:49.77. Was a member of the Irish 4 x 1 mile relay team that still holds the standing world record for that event. Tom McCormack - USATF Male Masters Runner of the Year for 2014. Eddie Leddy - 10,000m Gold medalist at the 1976 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Seamus Power - a five-time All-American and still holds the ETSU and Southern Conference records in the indoor 3,000 meters (8:05.37 in 1992. He was the most successful cross country runner in Southern Conference history, becoming the only runner to earn championships in 4 consecutive years.
Arkansas Alistair Cragg - won seven NCAA titles and was the European 3000 gold medalist in 2005. Niall O’Shaughnessy - All-American in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Frank O’Mara- A three-time Olympian, he was twice World Indoor Champion in the 3000m, NCAA 1500m champ. Was a member of the Irish 4 x 1 mile relay team that still holds the standing world record for that event Niall Bruton - Mile champion NCAA Indoor Championships 2X, Winner of the Wanamaker Mile in 94.
In the early 2000's there was a drop off of Irish runners and some of it had to do with a difference in training and the US colleges earned a reputation for burning runners out. They believe that US schools race and train too often. Others think the lure of soccer and the rise of Irish rugby had a hold on many great athletes who, like in the US, are often pushed to specialize in a single sport earlier than in the past, and that running was not winning the battle for great athletes. While Irish runners seemed to diminish in numbers, Irish soccer players and golfers were on the rise... especially in women's sports. The numbers appear to be increasing again but there are only so many slots and there are athletes from all over the world coming to the States for an education.
While these schools have had the deepest tradition with Irish runners, Wisconsin, Portland, Washington, Texas, Virginia, Tulsa, Brown, etc... have all tapped into Ireland to recruit runners. Iona had great Irish runners but in reality, it seemed that Nova, Arkansas and Providence got first pick.
Last Edit: Sept 21, 2023 12:57:22 GMT -5 by IONA86
86, a great writeup. When I subscribed to the Journal News or whatever it was called at the time, I remember reading that Eamon Coghlan and his family lived in Rye, NY. And naturally Wisconsin benefitted having former Iona coach, Mick Byrne as their HC. Bottom line, many great distance runners have come out of Ireland, so I'm hoping that Iona Ireland will ensure that we'll continue to get some of the top men and women runners.
86, a great writeup. When I subscribed to the Journal News or whatever it was called at the time, I remember reading that Eamon Coghlan and his family lived in Rye, NY. And naturally Wisconsin benefitted having former Iona coach, Mick Byrne as their HC. Bottom line, many great distance runners have come out of Ireland, so I'm hoping that Iona Ireland will ensure that we'll continue to get some of the top men and women runners.
Eamonn did live in Rye and he used to play golf with the Iona Irish runners during the mid 80's. One night (I think in 1986), the Irish runners decided to have a little party at their house off of Mayflower Avenue and I was in the kitchen talking to Eamonn, John Treacy (after he had taken Silver in the 84 Olympics marathon), Mick Byrne, Marcus O'Sullivan, the Iona guys and another All American from Ireland who ran for Nebraska. I learned a lot that evening. There were some legends sitting around bullshitting, having fun. Great atmosphere. The Irish runners amongst the various schools all seem to know each other and stay in touch with one another.
Men's race was supposed to start at noon. And while not official it appears that the Women finished second to Quinny. We did have the top runner, though.
How times have changed. Damien Dilcher was named the MAAC Runner of the Week. While he finished seventh in a Mile Race, he did break the Four Minute mile mark. I remember watching Roger Bannister, I believe, become the first to do so, and it was a Big Deal. Congrats, Damien.
How times have changed. Damien Dilcher was named the MAAC Runner of the Week. While he finished seventh in a Mile Race, he did break the Four Minute mile mark. I remember watching Roger Bannister, I believe, become the first to do so, and it was a Big Deal. Congrats, Damien.
Roger did NOT break the 4 minute barrier for the indoor mile. Four other Iona runners ran sub 4:10 miles on the same weekend as Damien. A freshman ran a 4 minute flat. Not bad for a school without a track - indoor or outdoor. The morning runs must be interesting.
Seems like the school is trying to down play the XC season, but the MAAC Championship, for both Men and Women, takes place today. Men going for #34 in a row, I believe. Best of luck for both teams.
