Middle, Distance Running Is Strength; Talent in Other Areas

For instance, the Irish picked up first-team All Americans in Hammer Throw and the pentathalon (women) and also got a 4th place in the Men's 800 meter.

A few years ago, we had a few excellent sprinters, hurdlers and a pole vaulter.

However, Matt Sparks -- a runner at IU as an undergrad -- coached at Southern Illinois before coming here to oversee the XC program and Track distance runners. He, along with Sean Carlson (now Men's XC Head coach) have done a great job developing, recruiting and developing middle- and distance runners, as the men's XC showing demonstrates.

Doing this in the un-friendly weather confines of South Bend is no small deal. All power to them and the guys/gals who make up the team.

I used to love seeing them when they were in the Big East and came to Van Cortlandt park in the Bronx. If the ACC championships are in Boston sometime soon, I'll head north to see them again. They're really good.