Patrick Tiernan


Patrick Tiernan is an Australian long-distance track and road runner. In addition to having won multiple road races in Australia, Tiernan represents Villanova in cross country and track. He also qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games and is the 2016 Men's DI National Cross Country champion.

Running career

Youth

Tiernan was born in Longreach and raised in Toowoomba, where he took up distance running. In July 2012 he won the 10 kilometers race that was part of the Gold Coast Marathon.

Collegiate

Tiernan was recruited by Villanova in January 2013 and missed out on the first indoor and outdoor track seasons. At the 2014 NCAA DI Indoor T&F Championships, Tiernan finished in seventh place in the 5000 meters final round. At the 2014 NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, Tiernan placed sixth in the 5000 meters, earning his first All-American honors in track and field in his NCAA collegiate career. He placed second overall at the 2015 NCAA DI Cross Country Championships behind Edward Cheserek, whom he beat in 2016 when he won the men's overall title.
YearBig East Conference Cross CountryNCAA Cross CountryBig East Conference indoorNCAA indoorBig East Conference OutdoorNCAA Outdoor
2016-1724:18.2 1st29:22.0 1st
2015-1622:23.1 1st29:11.1 2nd5000 m 14:03.53 1st5000 m 14:12.53 1st5000 m 13:27.07 3rd
3000 m 8:13.16 1st-
2014-1523:45.8 1st30:41.4 18th5000 m 14:18.04 1st5000 m 14:36.85 1st5000 m 13:55.81 10th
3000 m 8:18.73 2nd-
2013-1423:51.0 1st30:15.7 9th5000 m 14:04.26 1st5000 m 14:00.83 7th5000 m 13:56.01 1st5000 m 13:31.25 6th
3000 m 8:10.71 2nd-

Achievements

In March 2017, Tiernan was signed and sponsorship agreement with Nike Australia and joined Melbourne Track Club and trains with Villanova University coach Marcus O'Sullivan.