BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian College is taking a look back at its 2014-15 athletic campaign with a pair of top 10 lists. The first list of the Top 10 Exciting Games of 2014-15 was completed Wednesday, July 22. Today, Moravian starts its second list of the Top 10 Stories from the past year with a look at the No. 10 story – senior Dillon Farrell becoming the first male cross country All-American in school history on November 22.
"This program has had a lot of great men's long distance runners before Dillon and him becoming the first All-American in cross country shows just how tough it is, and how impressive his accomplishment was," stated Head Coach Jesse Baumann. "You have one chance on one day so if you're sick, get tripped, tweaked a muscle that week, or aren't peaked just right then it's probably not going to happen. It often takes a little luck, and we were fortunate that everything came together for Dillon that day."
Farrell capped his senior year and third trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships over the last three falls with a 17th place finish to earn All-America honors at the meet this past November hosted by Wilmington College. He completed the 8,000-meter course at the Golf Center at King's Island in Mason, Ohio with a school record time of 24:24.9.
"Reaching All-American status wasn't just about the last four years of training, it was about the last 10, and ultimately about everything I've believed in and valued for the last 22," commented Farrell. "I was raised in an environment that bred competitors and because of that I have a constant need to be the best. Not for the glory but for myself, to know that I've reached that. And when I began running and found it was my calling, nothing seemed higher than being an All-American, realistically anyway. So reaching this status meant achieving a lifetime goal before I even knew I had it. It means satisfying and undying need inside myself while making my parents, my friends, my hometown, my teammates, my school and my coach proud of me, which is an indescribable feeling."
Farrell is Moravian's first All-American in men's cross country as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association awards the top 35 finishers at the NCAA meet with All-America honors. In his first national meet in 2012, Farrell was 109th of 276 runners and his race in 2013 was cut short as he fell ill during the meet and had to drop out.
"In all honesty, part of me knew before the race started that it (being an All-American) was going to happen," Farrell said. "But you can't express that beforehand, you can't jinx it. My first trip I was scared out of my mind, my second I was running angry because of my previous years performance. This year I was experienced, I knew I was ready, I was confident and ready to take the title I'd been chasing for four years straight.
"When was I really sure though?" he continued. "I had a pretty good idea at mile two because I was sitting around 40th and I knew my kick was better than most others in the country, and my asthma was doing just fine so I had nothing holding me back. With a mile and a half to go I was about 25th and had plenty left for a kick so I knew then for sure that I was in. I actually found myself laughing periodically that last mile and a half because I was so excited, wasn't even hurting until the kick."
The outstanding senior year on the cross country course coupled with another strong season on the track saw Farrell selected as Moravian College s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete back in May.
During his cross country career, Farrell was a three-time Landmark All-Conference First Team selection including winning individual conference titles in 2012 and 2013 to be named the Landmark Conference Runner of the Year. He also a three-time NCAA All-Mideast Region honoree, and Farrell earned All-Freshman Mideast Region honors in 2011. He holds the school and Landmark Conference records for an 8,000-meter cross country course, and he holds six of the top 10 times in school history. Moravian won the Landmark team titles in 2011 and 2012.
On the track, Farrell captured the Landmark indoors titles in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs in 2014 as he was named the Landmark Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and another three titles in the 10,000-meter run outdoors including the 2015 meet. Farrell finished in the top five in an event in the conference championships 20 times for the track program, and he has made the Landmark All-Conference Second Team five times for runner-up performances. He also owns three school records on the track including the 3,000 meters both indoors and outdoors and the 10,000 meters outdoors.
"He had an incredible career for us, playing a big role in a number of conference titles in both cross country and track & field, set four school records, made three NCAA meets, and obviously the highest achievement was his All-American award his senior year," Baumann said.
Farrell was a nine-time selection to the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll, and he was selected as the Landmark Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete for Men's Outdoor Track & Field.
"Hands down the most outstanding moment was crossing that finish line at nationals this year," explained Farrell. "Even more so than that was the moment I saw my mom and dad and coach Jesse's face and the hug I received from all of them because I knew I had made them proud. Even thinking about it now makes me tear up, I cried for like three days straight after that race.
"The only other thing that needs to be said is that Coach Jesse Baumann is nearly the sole reason I've made it this far, not just as runner but as a member of society. He wasn't just a perfect coach for me, but an incredible friend in times that I struggled these past four years. It sounds corny but he's the type of person they come to call saints among us. And now that I'm graduated I'm glad I can officially call him my friend," Farrell finished.
Number nine on our Top 10 Stories will be announced on Wednesday, July 29.
