Irish athletes were in collegiate cross country action at five meetings across the United States on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th.
With individual races and relays both on the programme, here is how each runner got on and how their universities fared in the team standings.
Dinan Helps Florida State Women to Team Victory
Nicole Dinan finished third in the women’s 6km at the FSU Pre-Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, September 18th. The Leevale AC athlete ran 20:50.2 for Florida State University, following team mates Rylee Blade and Bieke Schipperen across the line.
Dinan was the third of Florida State’s five scoring runners. With its first five finishers placing first, second, third, fifth and sixth, Florida State won the team contest with 17 points. Southern Miss was second with 112.
Cronin Leads La Salle at Main Line Invitational
Sean Cronin was the first La Salle University runner home in the men’s four mile race at the Main Line Invitational in Haverford, Pennsylvania, on Friday, September 18th. The Clonliffe Harriers athlete placed eighth in 19:51.6.
His eighth place supplied La Salle’s lowest individual score. The university finished fifth in the team standings with 132 points, while Stony Brook won with 34.
Full Main Line Invitational Results
Moloney and McCarthy Win LSU Relay for McNeese
Diarmuid Moloney and Ryan McCarthy teamed up for McNeese State University at the LSU Twilight Cross Country Relay Invitational in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday, September 18th. Each runner covered 4km, and their combined time of 24:38.0 won the men’s relay.
Moloney, of Nenagh Olympic AC, and McCarthy, of Leevale AC, led four McNeese pairs in the first four places. McNeese also won the men’s team contest.
In the women’s relay, Elsa Moore of Lifford Strabane AC and Maria Murnane of Killarney Valley AC placed ninth for McNeese. They each ran 3km, recording a combined 22:35.9. They were the university’s third pair home, with the McNeese women finishing behind LSU and Nicholls in the team standings.
The individual 3km timing sheet also lists McNeese’s Mollie O’Riordan, another Killarney Valley AC athlete, 30th in 12:51.5. She has no corresponding relay finish in the published pair results.
Full LSU Twilight Relay Results | McNeese team report
Nugent First Home for Lenoir-Rhyne
Danny Nugent led Lenoir-Rhyne University at the Converse Kick-Off Southeast Regional Preview in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday, September 19th. The Ace AC runner placed 11th in the men’s 8km in 25:11.8, making him the university’s first finisher.
Nugent contributed 11 points to Lenoir-Rhyne’s team score. The university took sixth with 142 points, while Wingate won with 26.
Thornton Runs for Dartmouth at Souther Invitational
Emmy Thornton competed in the women’s 6km at the Maribel Sanchez Souther Invitational in Hanover, New Hampshire, on Saturday, September 19th. The Willowfield Harriers athlete finished 46th in 22:42.7 for Dartmouth College.
Thornton was Dartmouth’s sixth finisher, just outside the five runners whose positions counted towards its team score. Dartmouth placed seventh with 150 points, while UMass Amherst won with 55.
Full Maribel Sanchez Souther Invitational Results
Full Irish Athlete Results
FSU Pre-Regional, Friday, September 18th
Women’s 6km
Nicole Dinan - Florida State University (Leevale AC) - 3rd - 20:50.2
Main Line Invitational, Friday, September 18th
Men’s four miles
Sean Cronin - La Salle University (Clonliffe Harriers) - 8th - 19:51.6
LSU Twilight Cross Country Relay Invitational, Friday, September 18th
The placings and times for the relay runners below belong to their pairs. Mollie O’Riordan’s entry is her individual 3km leg; the published results do not give her a relay finish.
Women’s 2 × 3km relay
Elsa Moore - McNeese State University (Lifford Strabane AC) - 9th pair - 22:35.9 combined
Maria Murnane - McNeese State University (Killarney Valley AC) - 9th pair - 22:35.9 combined
Women’s individual 3km leg
Mollie O’Riordan - McNeese State University (Killarney Valley AC) - 30th - 12:51.5
Men’s 2 × 4km relay
Diarmuid Moloney - McNeese State University (Nenagh Olympic AC) - 1st pair - 24:38.0 combined
Ryan McCarthy - McNeese State University (Leevale AC) - 1st pair - 24:38.0 combined
Converse Kick-Off Southeast Regional Preview, Saturday, September 19th
Men’s 8km
Danny Nugent - Lenoir-Rhyne University (Ace AC) - 11th - 25:11.8
Maribel Sanchez Souther Invitational, Saturday, September 19th
Women’s 6km
Emmy Thornton - Dartmouth College (Willowfield Harriers) - 46th - 22:42.7
Banner Image: Florida State University
