Villanova Univeristy Athletics

One of the most decorated runners in Villanova history begins his third year as a graduate assistant for the Wildcats as Patrick Tiernan returns to the track & field and cross country staff in 2019-20.  Tiernan will work with the coaching staff in an administrative role while continuing his successful professional racing career.  The former NCAA champion and eight-time All-American competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is qualified for the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar in September 2019.   
 
During his collegiate career Tiernan was the individual national champion in cross country in 2016 and became the first athlete from the Villanova men’s program to be a four-time cross country All-American.  He tallied three career top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships in cross country, including finishing as the runner-up in 2015 one year before he won the national title.  Tiernan is also the only men’s athlete to win four consecutive BIG EAST individual cross country titles. 
 
On the track, Tiernan is the Wildcats all-time record holder in the 10000 meters with a mark of 27:59.74 which he recorded in Australia in December 2016.  He also is the program’s indoor record holder in the 5000 meters with a time of 13:37.73 which he ran at the Iowa State Classic in 2014.  Tiernan is a four-time All-American in the 5000 meters and finished as high as third at the NCAA Championships. 
 
Tiernan was an 11-time BIG EAST champion spanning the cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons.  He is one of only two men’s athletes in program history to win at least 11 career conference titles.  Tiernan also ran a leg of Villanova’s champion 4xMile relay squad at the Penn Relays in 2015, where he recorded a split of 4:01.1 on the third leg of the race. 
 
While still a member of the Wildcats active roster, Tiernan competed at the 2016 Olympics representing his native Australia.  He competed in the heats of the 5000 meters and recorded a time of 13:28.48 in his heat after taking the lead at one point during the middle of the race.  Tiernan has also competed at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.  He is a former Australia U20 gold medalist in cross country, the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters and was also an Australia U18 cross country champion.