1968 MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
At two in the morning, freshmen members of the Villanova cross country team made their way to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. ECAC rules prohibited them from participating in the next day's NCAA Championships, so they did the next best thing; made sure their teammates had all the support they needed.Â
In the wee hours, the freshmen hung signs from trees and painted rocks, all to urge on their teammates as they sought their third national title in a row. The encouragement worked as Villanova became the first team in NCAA history to capture three titles in a row.
Tom Donnelly, who typically ran 140 miles per week to train, finished a team-best eighth, but all five Wildcats finished in the top 50, including
Frank Murphy, who didn't even join the team until a month before after representing his native Ireland in the Olympics.
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VILLANOVA ROSTER
|
| Name |
Class |
Hometown |
High School |
| Dick Buerkle |
Senior |
Rochester, N.Y. |
Aquinas Institute |
| Tom Donnelly |
Senior |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
La Salle |
| Mike Garvey |
Junior |
Cranford, N.J. |
Roselle Catholic |
| Cliff Harbourt |
Senior |
Trenton, N.J. |
Steiner |
| Martin Hughes |
Sophomore |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Xaverian |
| LaMotte Hyman |
Sophomore |
Jamaica, N.Y. |
Andrew Jackson |
| Marty Liquori |
Sophomore |
Cedar Grove, N.J. |
Essex Catholic |
| Chris Mason |
Sophomore |
Sheffield, England |
St. Pauls R.C. |
| Desmond McCormack |
Junior |
Dublin, Ireland |
Colaister Mhuire |
| Frank Murphy |
Senior |
Dublin, Ireland |
|
| Greg Muth |
Junior |
Somerset, N.J. |
St. Joseph |
| Andy O'Reilly |
Junior |
Floral Park, N.J. |
Bishop Reilly |
| Rene Schlag |
Junior |
Malvern, Pa. |
Malvern Prep |
| Brian Sullivan |
Sophomore |
Hicksville, N.Y. |
Archbishop Molloy |
| James Weir |
Junior |
Springfield, N.J. |
St. Joseph |
| James Kane (Manager) |
Senior |
|
|
| Head Coach: Jumbo Elliott |
| Assistant Coach: Jack Pyrah |
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1968 HONORS AND AWARDS
All-Americans
Tom Donnelly
Dick Buerkle
IC4A Team Champion
Villanova
IC4A Individual Results
Donal Walsh (2nd)
Dave Wright (3rd)
Wilson Smith (5th)
Byron Beam (8th)
Bill McLoughlin (9th)
John Lamong (15th)
Rory Cassidy (31st)
Ernie Bradshaw (56th)
