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yrs ago today, @haverfordedu star Seamus McElligott pulled off an unlikely double that, three decades later, still resonates in a year without D1 or @NCAADIII XC champs.In less than 48 hrs, and 800 mi apart, he won D3 Nationals and made All-American in the D1 meet.
1/6
On Sat. Nov 17, 1990, McElligott, the runner-up in '89, won the D3 title handily in Grinnell, IA: 24:46 for 8k.
In those days, winners of D2 and D3 champs were invited to compete in the D1 championship race, but the hitch was the meet was only 2 days later, the next Monday. 2/6
In those days, winners of D2 and D3 champs were invited to compete in the D1 championship race, but the hitch was the meet was only 2 days later, the next Monday. 2/6
McElligott and Haverford's legendary coach, Tom Donnelly, traveled Sunday to Knoxville, TN, via Chicago, preparing to square off the next day against the best in D1, all of them fresh & ready for what's often called the most competitive single collegiate footrace of the year. 3/6
The next day, Monday Nov. 19, McElligott was not only competitive at the longer 10k distance, he secured the final D1 All-American slot, finishing 35th in 30:13. He also beat the D2 champ from that year, Doug Hanson of North Dakota State— 1 sec. and two places back in 30:14. 4/6
1990 was the final yr D2 & D3 runners were allowed to race in the D1 XC champs.
So Seamus McElligott was the last to accomplish the feat.
His remaining career included making a US team to World XC in '96 & the Olympic Trials 10,000 in '92. He died in 1998 at the age of 29. 5/6
So Seamus McElligott was the last to accomplish the feat.
His remaining career included making a US team to World XC in '96 & the Olympic Trials 10,000 in '92. He died in 1998 at the age of 29. 5/6
NB: I got to know Seamus at @lschs, where my dad Pat was his coach from 1982-86 on the @LaSalle_Sports XC/TF teams. A 4-time Phila. Catholic League champ in the Mile and 2 Mile, he never won a league XC title.
But he became one of the best XC runners in D3 history.
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But he became one of the best XC runners in D3 history.
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Need to give a shout to @SagehenW_XC_TF (Coach Kirk Reynolds) who maintains an amazing D3 XC history page that provides deeper context for all things D3 running, including athletes to compete in both D3 and D1 championship races. https://www.sagehens.com/sports/wxc/HistoriansReport/Report
