Hallinan Named ECAC Athlete of the Week

Sept. 26, 2007

WASHINGTON - As the week rolls on the awards keep mounting for Steve Hallinan (Drexel Hill, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara). Hallinan, AU's top runner the past two weeks, has been named the East Coast Athletic Conference's Division I Cross Country Athlete of the Week, conference officials announced Tuesday.

Hallinan finished second in last weekend's Iona Meet of Champions, just three-tenths of a second behind the meet's winner. For his efforts, the senior has already been named the Patriot League's Male Runner of the Week and the American University Student-Athlete of the Week presented by GEICO. In his first competition of the year, Hallinan placed fourth at the Navy Invitational and ran the 12th-fastest time in course history.

Hallinan has also helped his team become recognized in both regional and national polls. The Eagles received votes in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Poll, recognizing the top-30 programs in the country, and were also ranked eighth in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings. AU debuted in the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings at No. 3 in its preseason release.

This Eagles' runner is not unfamiliar with individual success. Hallinan is a former PL Cross Country Champion, PL Scholar-Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA Academic All-American.

Hallinan and the entire Eagles squad will return to action this Friday, Sept. 28, competing at the George Mason Invitational in Manassas, Va.