The 2026 NCAA cross country season got under way yesterday for a good selection of Irish athletes, with runners competing at the Friar Cross Country Invitational and McNeese Opener.
From established collegiate runners to new arrivals beginning their first season in America, here is how each athlete got on and what their performance meant for their university in the team standings.
Gardiner Helps Providence Women Continue Winning Run
Anna Gardiner produced the leading Irish women’s performance at the Friar Cross Country Invitational in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The East Down AC athlete finished second in the women’s 4km in 14:09.8, crossing the line behind Providence team mate Gabby Schmidt.
Gardiner was the second of Providence’s five scoring runners. With Friars athletes occupying first, second, third, seventh and ninth, Providence won the team contest with 22 points. It was the college’s sixth consecutive women’s victory at its home meeting.
Lorraine O’Connor, representing Providence and originally running for Clonliffe Harriers, finished 16th in 14:46.3. She was the sixth Providence athlete home, placing her just outside the five runners whose positions counted towards the team score.
Emmy Thornton led the Dartmouth College team. The Willowfield Harriers athlete placed 27th in 14:58.7 and was Dartmouth’s first finisher. Dartmouth took eighth in the team standings with 212 points.
Full Friar Invitational Women’s Results
Dixon Leads Providence Men To Second Place
Cormac Dixon was the first Providence athlete across the line in the men’s 6km. The Tallaght AC runner placed third in 18:10.9, giving the Friars their lowest individual score of the race.
Providence had five scoring runners inside the top 17 and finished second with 53 points. Penn won the team contest with 27 points.
Liam McCay was the other Irish runner in the race. The Finn Valley AC athlete finished 21st in 18:44.2 and was the sixth Providence finisher, leaving him outside the scoring five.
Full Friar Invitational Men’s Results
Four Irish Scorers Help McNeese Secure Two Second Place Finishes
Diarmuid Moloney and Ryan McCarthy finished fourth and fifth in the men’s 5km at the McNeese Opener in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Moloney, of Nenagh Olympic AC, recorded 14:44.0 for fourth and was the second McNeese State runner home. Leevale AC athlete McCarthy followed in fifth in 14:50.9 as McNeese’s third finisher.
Both Irish runners counted among the university’s scoring five. McNeese finished second with 38 points, 13 behind winners Stephen F. Austin.
The McNeese women also secured second place, scoring 40 points to finish eight behind Stephen F. Austin.
Elsa Moore of Lifford Strabane AC took eighth in the women’s 3km in 10:30.0. She was McNeese’s third scorer. Maria Murnane, representing Killarney Valley AC, finished 12th in 10:48.4 and counted as the team’s fourth scorer.
Full Irish Athlete Results
Friar Cross Country Invitational
Women’s 4km
Anna Gardiner - Providence College (East Down AC) - 2nd - 14:09.8
Lorraine O’Connor - Providence College (Clonliffe Harriers) - 16th - 14:46.3
Emmy Thornton - Dartmouth College (Willowfield Harriers) - 27th - 14:58.7
Men’s 6km
Cormac Dixon - Providence College (Tallaght AC) - 3rd - 18:10.9
Liam McCay - Providence College (Finn Valley AC) - 21st - 18:44.2
McNeese Opener
Women’s 3km
Elsa Moore - McNeese State University (Lifford Strabane AC) - 8th - 10:30.0
Maria Murnane - McNeese State University (Killarney Valley AC) - 12th - 10:48.4
Men’s 5km
Diarmuid Moloney - McNeese State University (Nenagh Olympic AC) - 4th - 14:44.0
Ryan McCarthy - McNeese State University (Leevale AC) - 5th - 14:50.9
