Three-Time XC All-American Shelby Houlihan Places Ninth At Championship Meet
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—Arizona State senior Shelby Houlihan wrapped her cross country career with a ninth-place finish in 20:11.4 at the 2014 NCAA Championships on Saturday at the LaVerne Gibson Championship Course.
Houlihan, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, joins Amy Hastings (2003, 2004, and 2005) as the only three-time All Americans in cross country in ASU history, and Houlihan is also the only Sun Devil to finish the race in the top-10 twice.
In 2013, Houlihan finished in eighth, and in 2012 she finished in 39th.
The 2014 Pac-12 Athlete of the Year, Houlihan won three races this season, starting with the defense of her title at the Roy Griak Invite (Sept. 27). Houlihan then won the 2014 Pac-12 Championships (Oct. 31), and followed with a win the NCAA West Regional (Nov. 14).
In her cross country career, Houlihan won five races, tying with Hastings for most career wins. She was the first Sun Devil to win three races in one season since Lynn Nelson won four in 1983.
Representing the Sun Devil men for the first time since 2010, redshirt junior Ryan Herson (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) placed 117th in the 10k race, finishing in 31:40.7.
Iona’s Kate Avery women’s won the race in 19:31.6 while Michigan State won the team competition with 85 points. On the men’s side, Oregon’s Edward Cheserek defended his title from last season, while Colorado won the team contest for the second straight year with 65 points.
Up next for Houlihan and Herson is the 2015 indoor and outdoor track and field season.
Houlihan’s Career XC Wins:
2014:
NCAA West Regional (Nov. 14, Stanford, Calif.)—19:31.6
Pac-12 Championships (Oct. 31, Oakland, Calif.)—19:59
Roy Griak Invite (Sept. 27, Minneapolis, Minn.)—20:34.5
2013:
Roy Griak Invite (Sept. 28, Minneapolis, Minn.)—20:36.0
2012:
George Kyte Classic (Sept. 1, Flagstaff, Ariz.)—16:52.4*
*5k race