The Sligo sophomore completed the race in 16:09.49, thereby qualifying for the ECAC Championship in May. Yale’s Kate O’Neill ran the winning time of 15:51.86.
Cullen also joined three teammates in managing a third-place finish in the 4-by-1,500-meter Relay College Women’s Championship of America race. Completing the team, which ran the race in 17:47.06, were Roisin McGettigan, a senior from County Wicklow; Emer O’Shea, a senior from Limerick, and Fiona Crombie, a freshman from Christchurch, New Zealand. North Carolina won the race in 17:20.18.
Providence’s men finished 11th in two separate 5,000-meter races. Paul Reilly, a grad student from Loughrea, Co. Galway, qualified for the NCAA Regionals with his 14:08.92 clocking in the men’s College Championship Race. Iona’s Richard Kiplagat had the winning time of 13:58.37. His teammate, Sean Connolly, was 26th to finish, clocked in 14:21.82. Connolly is a sophomore from Tallaght, Co. Dublin
The Friars’ Pat Guidera was the 11th finisher in the 5,000-meter College Race. The sophomore from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, made it home in 14:44.04. Oklahoma State’s Scott Rantall won the heat in 14:29.75.
Coach John McDonnell’s Arkansas team produced a victory in the 4-by-1,500-meter Relay College Men’s Championship of America race. They broke the tape in 16:16.22. The Razorbacks have now won 17 of the last 21 runnings of this event. Villanova, coached by Irish running legend Marcus O’Sullivan, was next in 16:31.63. Arkansas also was first to finish in the 4-by-800-meter Relay College Men’s Championship of America race in 7:16.09.
Alistair Cragg anchored the 4-by-1,500 team for Arkansas. Cragg, a native of South Africa, holds dual Irish citizenship and ran for Ireland at the World Cross Country Championship in Croatia last December. Competing with junior year eligibility, he was the NCAA Indoor Champion in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters in March.
The Razorbacks took a back seat to Michigan in the College Men’s Distance Medley Relay Championship of America. The Wolverines were winners with a 9:32.65 clocking. Arkansas was a shade behind in 9:32.87. McDonnell is a native of Crossmolina, Co. Mayo.
GOLF
Notre Dame’s Suzie Hayes took fourth place in the Big East Conference Women’s Championship, played over Warren Golf Course in Notre Dame, Ind. Hayes, a freshman from Dublin, shot 237 (78-79-80) for 54 holes. Teammate Katie Brophy and Miami’s Tina Miller shared medalist honors with scores of 229. The Fighting Irish were team champions, outdistancing runner-up Miami by 44 strokes.
Kent State’s women won the Mid-American Championship at Walden Ponds Golf Course in Hamilton, Ohio. Kent junior Martina Gillen, a Dubliner, finished second to teammate Veronique Drouin by four strokes. Gillen posted a 54-hole total of 223 (73-73-77). Kent finished 37 strokes ahead of Eastern Michigan in the team scramble.
South Alabama’s Gareth Maybin tied for 12th place in the Sun Belt Conference Championship at Bluewater Bay Resort in Naples, Fla. Maybin, a sophomore from Ballydome, Co. Antrim, was six strokes over par for 54 holes at 222 (75-72-75). North Texas’ Brad Besler won the individual title with 209. North Texas was team champion, with South Alabama 23 strokes behind in third place.
Southeast Louisiana’s Mark O’Sullivan finished 25th in the Southland Conference Championship at Canebrake Golf Course in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Galway senior shot 220 (72-73-75) for 54 holes, which was seven over par. Teammate Mervyn Owens, a sophomore from Mallow, Co. Cork, tied for 33rd place with 224 (77-70-77). Lamar’s Chris Stroud led the field at 206. Lamar was the team champion as well. Southeast Louisiana was 30 strokes behind in sixth position.
TENNIS
Fifth-ranked California lost to no. 1 Stanford, 4-3, in women’s action. Cal junior Catherine Lynch teamed with Nicole Havlicek to upend Emilia Anderson and Story Tweedie-Yates, 8-3, at third doubles. Lynch fell in three sets to Erin Burdette, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in a match at third singles.
Lynch, a junior from Dublin, then lost in the first round of the Pac-10 Singles Championship main draw. Ranked 84th by the Intercollegiate Tennis
Association, Lynch was eliminated by No. 67 Maureen Diaz of Southern California, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-1.