Athletics Ireland – News – Top 10 Finishes For Rooney and Collins at NCs

David Rooney (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Sarah Collins (Finn Valley AC) both produced amazing runs at the NCAA cross country championships held in Louisville Kentucky today.

Rooney showed he was really up for this race when he went off with the leaders from the start. While the top three broke away Rooney stayed in contention and never looked overawed by the company he was keeping. His seventh place finish was a tribute to the coaching staff at McNeese University and Brendon Gilroy (Calry/Sligo AC) in particular.

McNeese has been home to several Irish runners over the years, including the late Fanahan McSweeney who held Irish records in distances up to 400m. Rooney made school history by becoming the first runner in McNeese history to earn all-American honours in cross country.

Rooney, the reigning Southland Conference champion and South Central Region runner-up, ran a 29:21.3 time for the 10K race.

“This is amazing for David and the McNeese program,” said head coach Brendon Gilroy. “I am extremely delighted for David. It’s definitely ground breaking for the McNeese cross country program.”

Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech, who beat out Rooney by five seconds the regional meet, won the race with a time of 28:31.3.

This was Rooney’s third and final go-around at the nationals with a chance to earn the NCAA’s highest honor.

In 2009, he placed 58th at the meet that was held in Terre Haute, Indiana at the time, and was clocked at 30:32.6. A year later, he finished 50th at the meet with a 30:36.9 time. He did not compete at all in 2011.

In the women’s race Sarah Collins, a freshman at Providence College, finished in tenth position, the first fresher to cross the line. She has been in the top ten in all her races so far this season including second place showings at the BIG EAST and NCAA Regional Championships. The future augurs well for the Cork woman.

The Friars finished in the top-three for the fifth time in program history and turned in their best showing since claiming the title in 1995. All-time, the Friar women’s cross country team has now posted 18 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship under head coach Ray Treacy (Waterford AC).

Both will now hope for selection for the European cross country championships in Budapest.

Breandan O’Neill (Dundrum South Dublin AC) was another to win All American honours with his 28th place finish, while Shane Quinn (Ferrybank College) was 70th, Jake Byrne (Mullingar Harriers) was 163rd and David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) was 203rd.

 

Related posts:

1. Britton 4th in the IAAF Cross Country International in Burgos, Spain
2. Irish Runners on course for NCs
3. Britton to Test Form in Burgos

 

 Athletics Ireland – News