SAN DIEGO, CALIF - William and Mary alumni and volunteer coach Ed Moran '03 earned himself another spot on Team USA Saturday, finishing third at the USAT&F National Cross Country Championships in San Diego. Moran crossed the line in the 12K race in 35:54, just eight seconds behind winner Brent Vaughn and just two seconds behind runner-up Andrew Bumbalough.
Moran has been on a tear at national championships in the past year, winning the USAT&F 10K Road Championship and taking second in the 10,000m at the 2010 Outdoor Championships, before taking third today. Already a seven-time veteran of Team USA, Moran has assured himself of a third trip to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships if he wishes to take it, after previously racing at the meet in 2008 and 2009. The world championships this year at being held in Punta Umbria, Spain, on March 20th.
A four-time All-American during his career at W&M, Moran has served as an assistant coach with the Tribe since 2005-06, helping continue to build the College's legacy both through the athletes he has helped train as well as his own accomplishments in the professional ranks. Highlighting his post-collegiate career so far was his gold-medal winning performance in the 5,000m at the 2007 Pan-American Games, during which he broke the meet record for the event. Moran earned his Master's in Public Policy in 2005, and is currently pursuing an MBA from W&M's Mason School of Business.
Also running today were two more Tribe alums, who provided a pair of 13th-place finishes that place them in the pool for selection to either the World or NACAC Cross Country Championships. In the women's race, Kathy Newberry '00 ran 28:19, and in the men's race, Colin Leak '10 ran 36:44. The top-15 finishers in each race are eligible to be selected to represent Team USA in international meets, and typically several will decline to focus on training for the track season, allowing athletes deeper on the list to move up and continue competing. Newberry is a five-time veteran of the world championships, while Leak is looking to make his first mark internationally after graduating as an All-American at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
