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McDonnell’s Razorbacks back on top

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The Razorbacks ended their “drought” by topping the field at the NCAA Indoor Championships at their own venue in Fayetteville, Ark. John McDonnell, a Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, native, coaches the Razorbacks.
Arkansas outpointed Auburn, 52-28, on the strength of victories in three individual events. Alistair Cragg took both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters in 7:55.68 and 13:28.93, respectively, while Chris Mulvaney won the mile in 4:05.70. Westley Alkin, a junior from Dublin, also represented Arkansas in the 5,000, and came in 16th, timed in 14:50.65.
“I’m just overjoyed with this team,” McDonnell said. “After two years without a championship, this is great. We are back where we like to be. After not winning, you think you are losing your magic.”
The championship was Arkansas’ 17th in indoor competition and 37th overall, encompassing indoor, outdoor and cross country seasons.
Villanova managed to pick up a trophy for coach Marcus O’Sullivan. The Wildcats were first home in the men’s distance medley relay. The contingent of Ryan Hayden, Nicholas O’Brien, Paul Moser and Adrian Blincoe finished in 9:29.12. Villanova, with 23 points, tied for fifth place in the team standings.
Among the women, Providence College’s Roisin McGettigan managed a fourth-place finish in the mile. The Co. Wicklow senior was clocked in 4:42.06. Northern Arizona’s Johanna Nilsson had the winning time of 4:32.49.
The Friars’ Mary Cullen, a sophomore from County Sligo, finished 11th in the
3,000 meters. Her time was 9:26.16. North Carolina’s Shalane Flanagan was
the winner in 9:01.05.

TENNIS
The University of California women’s team took on three top-20 opponents last week and tasted victory against each one. The fourth-ranked Golden Bears roughed up no. 16 Fresno State, 6-1, with Catherine Lynch enjoying a victory at third singles over Lucia Sainz, 6-1, 6-2. Lynch, a junior from Dublin, also teamed with Nicole Havlicek at third doubles, where they handled Vlatka Jovanovic and Kristy McRae, 8-3.
California then edged 12th-ranked North Carolina, 4-3, despite no wins from
Lynch. She came up empty at third singles, losing to Aniela Mojzis, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3, and could do no better with Havlicek, falling to Lee Bairos and Marlene Mejia, 8-4. Lynch made amends in a 7-0 blistering of No. 13 Texas.
At third singles, she defeated Kelly Baritot, 7-5, 2-6, (10-8), and with
Havlicek upended Michelle Krinke and Leigh Tucker, 8-1. The Golden Bears are now 11-2 on the season.

GOLF
The top 10 beckoned two Irish golfers at the Conrad Rehling Invitational at the Capstone Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Toledo’s Sean McTernan, a senior from
County Sligo, had seventh place to himself at 1-over-par 214 (69-73-72).
Southeast Louisiana’s Mark O’Sullivan, a senior from Galway, was three shots in back of McTernan at 217 (71-72-74), tied for 10th place. Farther down the leaderboard were Toledo’s Richard Kilpatrick, a freshman from Banbridge, Co. Down, tied for 36th place at 224 (77-76-71), Toledo’s David Jones, a senior from Derry, tied for 52nd place at 228 (74-75-79), and Southeast Louisiana’s Mervyn Owens, a sophomore from Mallow, Co. Cork, who was in 63rd place at 233 (79-83-71). Illinois’ James Lepp was the medalist at 211, while Auburn made off with the team trophy. Southeast Louisiana finished third, 10 strokes behind Auburn, with Toledo another 12 strokes back in sixth position.
Campbell won its own Fighting Camel Classic at the Keith Hills Country Club in Buies Creek, N.C. Michelle Holmes, a sophomore from Co. Mayo, tied for 17th place with her 168 (85-83). Teammate Sharon O’Neill was the low individual at 151.

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