MCC News
Wed, Jun 24, 2009 - [Men's Track & Field] - Viewed 800 times - Post By Dan Tomlin
Freshman All-American John Darmody set to race at the USA Junior Nationals
Although finals are done, St. Ambrose University freshman John Darmody has his hardest test of the year this weekend.
Consider it a Track & Field final. Already a 2-time All-American, Darmody will be racing the 1500-meter run at this weekend's USA Junior National Championships, run in conjunction with the USA National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Darmody, who resides in the Pacific Northwest in Everett, Wash. just outside Seattle, earned his spot in the field of the top athletes under 20 with his 1500-meter time earlier this season.
In May, Darmody raced to an All-American 6th place finish in the 1500m run at the NAIA National Championships in a time of 3:50.12. He also secured the sixth and last All-American spot at the NAIA Indoor Nationals in the mile with a run of 4:16.26.
This marks the first time in school history the Fighting Bees will be represented in the USA Junior Nationals.
"This is a very exciting accomplishment for John and for the entire program," St. Ambrose second-year track & field coach Dan Tomlin said. "He dreams big, and has very ambitious goals, and this is another one of those steps."
Darmody is heading into the race ranked sixth with a lot on the line. The top two finishers in every event at the USA Junior Nationals qualify for a spot on the US Junior National team, which will compete in the Pan-Am Games next month in Trinidad and Tobago.
During both his freshman indoor and outdoor seasons, Darmody has run lifetime bests on the biggest stage, including a 7-second drop outdoors where he came in ranked 17th before finishing 6th.
Last summer, Darmody showed prominence on the national stage by finishing 3rd in the 1500m run at the USATF Junior Olympics, where he ran a time of 4:03.17.
"John always seems to find a way to get what he wants," said Tomlin. "This will be a good experience for him as far as competing on the national level and going through the rounds. He's only starting to realize his potential, and that's exciting for all of us."
This past season, Darmody set four Midwest Collegiate Conference records: the 800m (indoor and outdoor), the 1000m (indoor) and the mile run (indoor), and was named the MCC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Junior Nationals Schedule (times CST)
1500m prelims -- Sat., 3:20 p.m.
1500m finals -- Sun, 5:15 p.m.
Consider it a Track & Field final. Already a 2-time All-American, Darmody will be racing the 1500-meter run at this weekend's USA Junior National Championships, run in conjunction with the USA National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Darmody, who resides in the Pacific Northwest in Everett, Wash. just outside Seattle, earned his spot in the field of the top athletes under 20 with his 1500-meter time earlier this season.
In May, Darmody raced to an All-American 6th place finish in the 1500m run at the NAIA National Championships in a time of 3:50.12. He also secured the sixth and last All-American spot at the NAIA Indoor Nationals in the mile with a run of 4:16.26.
This marks the first time in school history the Fighting Bees will be represented in the USA Junior Nationals.
"This is a very exciting accomplishment for John and for the entire program," St. Ambrose second-year track & field coach Dan Tomlin said. "He dreams big, and has very ambitious goals, and this is another one of those steps."
Darmody is heading into the race ranked sixth with a lot on the line. The top two finishers in every event at the USA Junior Nationals qualify for a spot on the US Junior National team, which will compete in the Pan-Am Games next month in Trinidad and Tobago.
During both his freshman indoor and outdoor seasons, Darmody has run lifetime bests on the biggest stage, including a 7-second drop outdoors where he came in ranked 17th before finishing 6th.
Last summer, Darmody showed prominence on the national stage by finishing 3rd in the 1500m run at the USATF Junior Olympics, where he ran a time of 4:03.17.
"John always seems to find a way to get what he wants," said Tomlin. "This will be a good experience for him as far as competing on the national level and going through the rounds. He's only starting to realize his potential, and that's exciting for all of us."
This past season, Darmody set four Midwest Collegiate Conference records: the 800m (indoor and outdoor), the 1000m (indoor) and the mile run (indoor), and was named the MCC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Junior Nationals Schedule (times CST)
1500m prelims -- Sat., 3:20 p.m.
1500m finals -- Sun, 5:15 p.m.
