February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Fraser, a senior from Belfast, ran the 5,000 in 14:40.49, which was more than five seconds faster than the runner-up. Conroy, a senior from Cork, also enjoyed a comfortable victory, breaking the tape in 9:10.39, more than six seconds before his nearest pursuer. Wisconsin-Milwaukee was the team champion, while Loyola took third place, with Butler fifth.
Southern Illinois’ Joe Byrne picked up a win and a second-place finish at the Missouri Valley Conference meet in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The junior from Downpatrick, Co. Down was fleetest of foot at 10,000 meters, with a 31:15.11 time. That was 14 seconds better than the runner-up.
Byrne then hung tough at 5,000 meters, but couldn?t withstand Drake’s Brent Wilberts, who got home in 14:38.07. Byrne checked in at 14:41.24. SIU placed fifth in the team standings, which was topped by Northern Iowa.
DePaul sent out Gavin Kennedy and Richard Byrne in the 1,500 meters at the Conference USA meet, with Kennedy running fourth and Byrne, ninth.
Kennedy, a senior from Waterford, was caught in 3:52.73, while Byrne, a Dublin sophomore, needed 3:55.52. Texas Christian’s Kip Kangogo crushed the field with his 3:43.82, more than seven seconds better than the next finisher.
DePaul finished 11th of 12 teams as Houston cruised to the team title.
TENNIS
California’s men’s team defeated San Diego State, 4-1, in first-round NCAA action. Limerick junior Conor Niland came through at first singles for the Golden Bears, defeating Benedikt Stronk, 6-2, 6-2. California was then bounced out in the next round by UCLA, 4-2. Niland, ranked 13th among Division I men by the Intercollegiate Tennis Assn., prevailed over No. 7 Luben Pampoulov, 6-4, 6-4.
Harvard’s women reached the round of 16 with wins over Maryland, 4-0, and Tennessee, 4-1. Dublin sophomore Elsa O’Riain teamed with Courtney Bergman for an 8-6 victory over Neda Mihneva and Tamar Huppes that clinched the doubles point for the Crimson. O’Riain’s singles match with Mihneva was suspended when Harvard scored its fourth point. Likewise, O’Riain and Bergman were still on the court when Harvard won the doubles point over Tennessee. O’Riain went on to drop her match at fourth singles to Ashley Robards, 7-6 (6), 6-1.
The Notre Dame men saw their season end with a 4-1 loss to Louisville in the first round. Dublin sophomore Barry King joined Ryan Keckley for an 8-5 doubles triumph over Jhonny Barrido and Slavko Radman, although the Cardinals won the doubles point with two other victories. King came up short at third singles, losing to Jakob Gustaffson, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
William & Mary also flamed out quickly, losing to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 4-2. The Tribe’s Colin O’Brien ended the season with losses at second singles to Raul Morant-Rivas, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, and at third doubles with Alex Fish to Morant-Rivas and Oscar Roman, 8-6. O’Brien is a sophomore from Dublin.