Twenty Irish athletes took to cross country courses across seven US collegiate meetings on Friday October 16th and Saturday October 17th as the 2026 season continued.
From the Pre-National Invitational in Indiana to Saturday’s championship racing in New York, here is how each runner got on and what their performance meant for their university in the team standings.
Brosnan Scores as Virginia Take Second at Panorama Farms
Shane Brosnan helped the University of Virginia men finish second at the Panorama Farms Invitational in Earlysville, Virginia, on Friday October 16th.
The An Ríocht AC athlete placed 11th in the men’s 8km in 24:46.4. He was Virginia’s third runner home and counted among the university’s five scorers.
Virginia finished with 51 points, 20 behind winners Virginia Tech. Wingate took third with 75 points.
Full Panorama Farms Invitational Results
Fenlon Helps Villanova to Second at Pre-Nationals
Jack Fenlon was part of the Villanova University team that finished second in the men’s Blue race at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Friday October 16th.
The St Abban’s AC athlete completed the 8km in 23:46.3 to finish 28th. He was Villanova’s fourth scorer as the university placed all five counting runners inside the top 42.
Villanova recorded 127 points, finishing 12 behind Syracuse and 21 ahead of third placed Notre Dame.
Scott Fagan, of Metro/St Brigid’s AC, finished 105th in 24:20.4 for Loyola University Chicago. He was the team’s third scorer as Loyola placed 16th with 499 points.
Frank Buchanan was the second University of Illinois runner home, taking 119th in 24:23.4. Buchanan, who transferred from St Michael’s College AC to CNDR Track Club earlier this year, counted towards Illinois’ total of 704 points in 28th place.
Billy Coogan, of Kilkenny City Harriers, finished 198th in 24:45.6 for Iona University. He was Iona’s sixth finisher, outside the scoring five, as the team placed 19th with 563 points.
In the separate men’s White 8km race, Caolan McFadden finished 32nd in 25:10.0. The Cranford AC athlete was the second of three Villanova finishers. Villanova did not field a complete scoring team in that race.
Dinan and Duffy Score in the Women’s Blue Race
Nicole Dinan and Muireann Duffy both counted for their universities in the women’s Blue 6km at the same meeting on Friday October 16th.
Leevale AC athlete Dinan finished 112th in 21:02.4 and was Florida State University’s third scorer. Florida State placed 20th with 551 points.
Duffy, of Clonmel AC, took 256th in 21:56.7. She was Iona University’s fifth scorer as the team finished 36th with 902 points.
The official results give Florida State 551 points. The university’s recap also uses that figure in its main text, although its results summary lists 557.
Full Under Armour Pre-National Invitational Results
Keane Scores for Adams State as McNeese Pair Finish Close Together
Five Irish athletes completed the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, on Friday October 16th.
Claragh Keane was Adams State University’s fifth scorer in the women’s 6km. The DMP AC athlete finished 64th in 20:44.0 as Adams State took fifth in the team standings with 193 points.
Susie Nestor, of UCD AC, placed 241st in 22:14.0. Listed as Susan Nestor in the official results, she was Rice University’s third scorer as the team finished 31st with 892 points.
Maria Murnane completed the women’s race in 22:51.0 for 305th place. The Killarney Valley AC athlete was McNeese State University’s fifth scorer, with McNeese taking 32nd on 901 points.
In the men’s 8km, Ryan McCarthy and Diarmuid Moloney finished three places and 2.8 seconds apart.
Leevale AC athlete McCarthy took 75th in 24:12.0 as McNeese’s second finisher. Moloney, of Nenagh Olympic AC, followed in 78th in 24:14.8 and was the university’s third scorer. McNeese finished 13th with 372 points.
Murnane’s placing follows the official Flash Results and TFRRS lists, which both give 305th. McNeese’s recap lists her in 304th.
