Head Coach:

Ray Treacy (31st Year)

 

Last Year:

2nd Big East

4th Northeast Region

16th NCAA

 

Probable Top Five:

SR Shane Quinn (8:01 3k; 13:48 5k; 29:30 10k; 42nd NCAA XC '13)

SR Ben Connor (8:12 3k; 14:08 5k; 29:18 10k; 44th NCAA XC '13)

JR Harvey Dixon (3:45 1500m; 8:16 3k; 164th NCAA XC '13)

SR Brian Doyle (14:26 5k; 29:42 10k; 173rd NCAA XC '13)

JR Julian Oakley (3:44 1500m; 4:00 Mile; 222nd NCAA XC '13)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Aaron Hanlon - Drogheda, Ireland (8:10 3k; All-Ireland Schools 5k Winner 2014)

Tom O'Neill - Middletown North, NJ (4:16 1600m; 9:01 3200m; 33rd NXN '13)

Brendan Ungemach - Wayne Hills, NJ (4:17 1600m; 9:21 3200m)

 

Analysis:
It is pretty well established that Coach Ray Treacy’s older brother John, the Irishman with two World Cross Country Championship titles and a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games marathon, is a lock for the Irish Sports Hall of Fame. €But younger brother, Ray, is making a strong case for himself as one of the most successful coaches in the NCAA. This Providence alum has coached 11 Olympians and 59 All-Americans, a streak doesn’t look to be over any time soon.

A very savvy recruiter, his international contacts paid off handsomely for him last year and will most likely do so again in 2014. Returning are two very solid guys in seniors Shane Quinn who hails from Treacy’s home town of Waterford, Ireland, and Englishman Ben Connor. Their 42nd and 44th finishes, respectively, at the Nationals last year bode well for this fall.

Julian Oakley, who has broken four minutes in the mile, is obviously much better on the track than he is on grass, but if he can balance that out, he should be better than 222nd this year. He was a quality cross runner in the junior ranks in his native New Zealand, and one extra year should make him stronger over the longer distance.

Junior Harvey Dixon and senior Brian Doyle,with 3:45 1500m for Dixon on the track and Doyle’s 29:42 for 10k, should be just the kind of guys you need in the mid-pack to make some minor noise in Terre Haute.

Treacy will be relying on another Irishman, Aaron Hanlon, who was the All-Ireland schools 5k winner and has run 8:10 for 3k, to bolster the 6 or 7 spot. The two New Jersey high school stars, Tom O’Neill and Brendan Ungemach, are both solid milers with O’Neill looking to be the more promising in cross country, at least for now.

Ray Treacy is experienced, smart, and a good-on-the-day coach.  This Friars' team will be good. Treacy will see to that.

#19 New Mexico Women
#20 Florida State Men