from the Athletics Association of Ireland David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) made a big contribution to Western State’s second place finish in the Division 2 Central Regional cross country championships in Wayne Nebraska yesterday. Finishing in fourteenth position he was the third scoring member of the team who have now qualified for the National championships in Bowling Green Kentucky on 4th December. He earned all-region honors with his top 15 finish.
Meanwhile, the Division 1 Nationals take place tomorrow Monday in Terre Haute Indiana with five Irish runners competing – Ciaran O’Lionaird (Florida State), David Rooney (McNeese State), Craig Murphy (Iona College), Hollie Knight (Auburn) and Charlotte Ffrench O’Carroll (Providence College). Both men’s and women’s races can be viewed online on NCAA.com starting at 5pm Irish time.
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Wednesday the winners of USTFCCCA Region Athletes and Coaches of the Year honors for the 2010 cross country season in Division I as voted by the division’s coaches. Amongst the winners were:
SOUTH REGION – Ciaran O’Lionaird, Florida State
O’Lionaird, a senior from Cork, Ireland, won the NCAA South Regional by more than two seconds over Alabama’s Carrison Kemei. At this fall’s ACC Championships, the Seminole placed fourth.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Mick Byrne, Wisconsin
Bryne’s Badgers were dominant in winning their eighth-straight NCAA Great Lakes regional crown, scoring a 32-76 victory over nearest challenger Indiana. Wisconsin placed five in the top ten in the region to carry their 26th all-time region title. The Badgers won their 12th-straight Big Ten crown earlier this fall and was runners-up at Oregon’s Bill Dellinger Invitational and their home adidas Invitational. Byrne, in his third season, has the fourth nationally-ranked team heading into the NCAA Championships.
NORTHEAST REGION – Andy Ronan, Stony Brook
Ronan’s Seawolves were the runners-up at the NCAA Northeast Regional, placing four runners in the top ten to come within five points of Syracuse. Stony Brook, ranked 11th nationally, won their fourth-straight America East title this fall and finished fourth at the Pre-National Invitational.
NCAA Div. II XC Central Regional Championship Wayne, NE
MEN 10,000 Meters
1 Ben Zywicki SR Colorado Mines 31:03.4
2 Sean Brown SR Western State 31:03.4
3 Luke Cragg SR Adams State 31:08.9
4 Aaron Swift SR Colorado Mines 31:12.3
5 Keegan Calmes SO Adams State 31:15.3
6 Ryan McNiff SR Adams State 31:20.5
7 Nathaniel Sellers JR Adams State 31:22.6
8 Craig Huffer JR Adams State 31:23.6
9 Edwin Cruz SO Adams State 31:25.1
10 Brandon Birdsong SR Adams State 31:27.1
11 Ryan Haebe FR Western State 31:31.6
12 Travis Beniak JR Augustana (S.D.) 31:31.9
13 Tanner Fruit SR Nebraska-Kearney 31:37.4
14 David Flynn SO Western State 31:41.8
15 David Goodman JR Western State 31:42.4
NCAA DIVISION II SOUTH REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP Huntsville, Alabama
WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1 HEATHER NICOLOSI Tampa 20:50.1
2 JENIFFER CHERONO Alabama-Huntsville 21:23.7
3 MEGHAN GILMORE Palm Beach Atlantic 21:29.7
31 CHERYL NOLAN Arkansas Tech 24:03.5