Patrick Tiernan Explained

Patrick Tiernan
Birth Date:11 September 1994
Birth Place:Longreach, Queensland, Australia[1]
Nationality:Australian
Sport:Track, long-distance running
Universityteam:Villanova
St Joseph's College '11
Height:185 cm[2]
Weight:68 kg
Turnedpro:Dec 2016
Partner:Angel Tiernan
Show-Medals:yes
Updated:14 January 2024

Patrick Tiernan (born 11 September 1994) is an Australian long-distance runner. While competing for Villanova University, he won the 2016 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. He has represented Australia in several global competitions, including the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. He held the Australian record in the 10000 m from 2020 to 2022. Tiernan competes professionally for Puma.

Running career

Youth

Tiernan was born in Longreach, a town in Queensland, Australia.[3] He spent his formative years in Toowoomba, also in Queensland, where he took up distance running while attending St Joseph's College, Toowoomba. In July 2012, he won the 10 kilometres race that was part of the Gold Coast Marathon.[4]

College

Cross country

Tiernan competed for the Wildcats at Villanova University, where he earned All-American honors at each NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in which he competed.[5] As a freshman in 2013, Tiernan placed ninth, beating 244 other runners. He finished in eighteenth place the following year. In his junior year in 2015, Tiernan claimed the runner-up spot, closely contesting the title with University of Oregon’s Edward Cheserek.[6] Tiernan led much of the race, before Cheserek pulled away in the final mile.

Cheserek entered the 2016 NCAA Division Cross Country Championships as the clear favorite, having won the competition an unprecedented three years in a row.[7] [8] The race took place LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it quickly unfolded into a three-man race between Tiernan, Cheserek, and Syracuse junior Justyn Knight.

Tiernan broke away from the other competitors in the final stages of the race, becoming the first Villanova man to win the NCAA Championships since Victor Zwolak in 1963. Knight finished in second place, leaving Cheserek in an unexpected third. Following his victory, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named Tiernan its National Athlete of the Year.[9] In reflecting on the race, LetsRun.com wrote that Tiernan "defeated arguably the most dominant runner in collegiate history in a performance that will be talked about for decades to come."[10]

Track

On the track, Tiernan recorded his highest finish at the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held in June, finishing third in 13:27.07.[11] Following the NCAA Championships, Tiernan continued to compete in Europe and achieved a time of 13:20.88 in the 5000 m at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 29.[12] This time was below the Olympic standard of 13:25.00. The following month, Australia confirmed his selection to the Olympic team for the 5000 m.[13] At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on August 17, Tiernan participated in the 5000 m race but finished thirteenth in his heat, which did not qualify him for the final.

Professional

2017-19

Tiernan revealed his decision to sign a professional sponsorship deal with Nike on 26 March 2017.[14] The announcement came after he finished thirteenth at the 42nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda. The following May, he won the 10000 m of the Palo Alto Payton Jordan Invitational in a world-leading time and personal best of 27:29.81.[15]

In August, Tiernan competed in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics. He placed last among twenty two competitors in the 10000 m. During the 5000 m, he took the lead at the 3000 m mark.[16] However, he relinquished his lead shortly thereafter, eventually fading to eleventh place by the finish. Tiernan returned to compete at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. In the 5000 m, he finished in tenth place during the heats, which was not enough to secure a position in the final. Following his participation in the world championships, Tiernan joined the Nike-sponsored Oregon Track Club.[17]

2020-21

On 5 December 2020, Tiernan set a personal best of 27:22.55 in the 10,000m of The Track Meet in San Juan Capistrano, California.[18] His time was an Australian record, surpassing the previous mark set by Stewart McSweyn. Tiernan's national record stood for 458 days before being surpassed by his countryman Jack Rayner on 8 March 2022.[19]

After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiernan returned to competition in January 2021 at the Las Vegas Gold Half Marathon. He won the race in 1:02:38, covering the last five kilometers in 13:58.[20] Three weeks later, he dropped down in distance to contest the mile at the Washington Invitational in Seattle, Washington, winning in 3:56.82.[21]

The Australian competed in the 10,000m event at the 2020 Summer Olympics on 30 July 2021. During the race, he suffered from heat exhaustion, collapsing twice.[22] [23] Nonetheless, Tiernan persevered in finishing the race, albeit in last place, and subsequently required a wheelchair and medical care. Due to this episode of heat exhaustion, he withdrew from the subsequent 5000 m event at the Games, despite being entered to compete.

2022- present

In January 2022, Tiernan left the Nike Oregon Track Club to compete for Puma.[24] Tiernan placed sixth at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, Texas, on 16 January, clocking a time of 1:00:55. This was the second-fastest time ever recorded by an Australian in the event, with only Brett Robinson having run faster.[25] In October 2022, he made his marathon debut at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in sixteenth place with a time of 2:11:02.[26]

Tiernan placed fourth at the 2024 Chevron Houston Marathon in 2:07:45 on the 14 January.[27] His time was the second fastest marathon ever by an Australian and met the qualifying standard for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Achievements

NCAA competition

All results from athlete's profile on the Track & Field Results Reporting Service (TFRRS).[28]

Year Big East Conference Cross Country NCAA Cross Country NCAA Outdoor
2016-17 bgcolor=gold24:18.2 1st bgcolor=gold29:22.0 1st
Rowspan=22015-16 bgcolor=gold22:23.1 1st bgcolor=silver29:11.1 2nd bgcolor=gold5000 m 14:03.53 1st bgcolor=gold5000 m 14:12.53 1st bgcolor=cc990005000 m 13:27.07 3rd
bgcolor=gold3000 m 8:13.16 1st
Rowspan=22014-15 bgcolor=gold23:45.8 1st 30:41.4 18th bgcolor=gold5000 m 14:18.04 1st bgcolor=gold5000 m 14:36.85 1st 5000 m 13:55.81 10th
bgcolor=silver3000 m 8:18.73 2nd
Rowspan=22013-14 bgcolor=gold23:51.0 1st 30:15.7 9th bgcolor=gold5000 m 14:04.26 1st 5000 m 14:00.83 7th bgcolor=gold5000 m 13:56.01 1st 5000 m 13:31.25 6th
bgcolor=silver3000 m 8:10.71 2nd

International competition

All results from athlete's profile on World Athletics.

Representing
2011Oceania Youth ChampionshipsSydney, Australiabgcolor=silver2nd3000 m8:33.57
2016Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil19th5000 m13:28.48
2017World Cross Country ChampionshipsKampalaUganda13th10,000 m29:19
World ChampionshipsLondon, United Kingdom11th5000 m13:40.01
22nd10,000 m29:23.72
2018Commonwealth GamesGold Coast, QueenslandDQ 10th10,000 mDQ 28:22.9
2019World ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar20th (h)5000 m13:28.42
2021Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan19th10,000 m28:35.06

2011: 1st, Australian Junior (U18) cross country champion

2012: 1st, Gold Coast 10km run, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

2012: 1st, 1500 meters (3:50.67) U20 Australian Championships

2012: 1st, 5000 meters (14:40.59) U20 Australian Championships

2012: 1st, U20 Australian Championships cross country

2016: 4th, 5000 m 13:41.37, Australian Athletics Championships Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre Sydney New South Wales

2016: 20th, 5000 m 13:28, Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres Brazil

2017: 13th, 10000 m 29:19, 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race Kampala Uganda

2018: 4th, 5000 m 13:26.38 Australian Championships Gold Coast, Queensland

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrick Tiernan . . . 19 August 2016 . 20 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820161233/http://rio2016.olympics.com.au/athlete/patrick-tiernan . dead.
  2. https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/patrick-tiernan Patrick Tiernan
  3. Web site: Kissane, John A. . 5 Minutes with Patrick Tiernan . 21 November 2013 .
  4. News: 2012 Gold Coast Airport Marathon . GoldCoast.com . 1 July 2012 . 3 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Patrick Tiernan - Men's Cross Country . 2023-11-09 . Villanova University . en.
  6. Web site: LetsRun.com . Syracuse "Out-Colorado's" Colorado For NCAA Cross Crown as Edward Cheserek Makes History Look Easy . 2023-11-09 . LetsRun.com . en.
  7. Web site: LetsRun.comNovember 16 . 2016 NCAA XC Men's Individual Preview: Edward Cheserek Looks To Close Out A Perfect Career at NCAA XC . 2023-11-09 . LetsRun.com . en.
  8. Web site: Kissane . John A. . 2016-11-17 . NCAA Cross-Country Championships: 5 Things to Watch . 2023-11-09 . Runner's World . en-US.
  9. Web site: Postseason Awards Announced for 2016 NCAA DI Cross Country . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109031146/https://www.ustfccca.org/2016/11/featured/postseason-awards-announced-for-2016-ncaa-di-cross-country . 2023-11-09 . 2023-11-09 . U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association . en-US.
  10. Web site: LetsRun.com . Patrick Tiernan Stuns Edward Cheserek as NAU Wins First Crown to Send Coach Eric Heins Out On Top . 2023-11-10 . LetsRun.com . en.
  11. Web site: 2016-06-10 . Results: Men 5000 M (Final) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110141358/https://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/external/track-field/results/d1/outdoor16/final/007-1-01.htm . 2023-11-10 . 2023-11-10 . www.ncaa.com.
  12. Web site: Toohey . Terry . 2016-08-05 . Australians Tiernan, McEntee carry on Villanova's Olympic track legacy . 2023-11-10 . The Times Herald . en-US.
  13. News: Australian Associated Press . 2016-07-13 . Peter Bol, Patrick Tiernan added to Australia's Olympic athletics squad . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-10 . 0261-3077.
  14. Web site: Gault . Jonathan . NCAA Cross Country Champion Patrick Tiernan Signs With Nike . 2023-11-10 . LetsRun.com . en.
  15. Web site: Tiernan and Bahta impress in Stanford REPORT World Athletics . 2023-11-10 . worldathletics.org.
  16. Web site: LetsRun.com . The upsets continue: Mo Farah is beaten in men's 5,000 at Worlds, Muktar Edris dethrones the king . 2023-11-10 . LetsRun.com . en.
  17. Web site: Anderson . Curtis . Australian Standout Tiernan off to Hot Start with OTC Elite . 2023-11-10 . Oregon Track Club . en-US.
  18. Web site: Gleeson . Michael . 2020-12-07 . 'I wasn't going home empty handed': Tiernan breaks Australian record . 2023-11-09 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  19. Web site: Salvado . John . 2022-03-07 . Rayner breaks Australian 10,000m record Commonwealth Games Australia . 2023-11-09 . commonwealthgames.com.au . en-AU.
  20. Web site: Moorhouse . Lachlan . Tiernan wins Vegas Gold Half Marathon and Ramsden qualifies for Tokyo . 2023-11-08 . www.athletics.com.au . en.
  21. Web site: 2021-02-14 . Hanna Green, Pat Tiernan win fast miles at Washington Indoor Invitational . www.DyeStat.com.
  22. News: Australian Associated Press . 2021-07-30 . 'I'm no hero': Australian distance runner Patrick Tiernan drags himself across line . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-08 . 0261-3077.
  23. Web site: 2021-07-30 . 'Gutsy as hell': Amazing detail overlooked in Aussie moment 'that will stay with us forever' . 2023-11-08 . Fox Sports . en.
  24. Web site: Pflock . Denise . 2022-01-18 . The RUN PUMA Family continues to expand its international roster with Liv Westphal, Pat Tiernan & Sondre Moen . 2023-11-10 . PUMA CATch up . en-US.
  25. Web site: Half Marathon - men - senior - outdoor until 2023-11-09 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109011407/https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/road-running/half-marathon/outdoor/men/senior?regionType=countries&region=aus&drop=regular&fiftyPercentRule=regular&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&firstDay=1899-12-31&lastDay=2023-11-07 . 2023-11-09 . 2023-11-09 . worldathletics.org.
  26. Web site: Race Results - Patrick Tiernan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231109012702/https://chicago-history.r.mikatiming.com/2022/?content=detail&fpid=search&pid=search&idp=9TGG963827B3F8&lang=EN&event=MAR_9TGG9638119&lang=EN_CAP&search%5Bname%5D=Tiernan&search_event=MAR_9TGG9638119 . 2023-11-09 . 2023-11-09 . Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
  27. News: Gunders . Peter . 2024-01-21 . Australian marathon runners 'taking it to the rest of the world' ahead of Olympics . 2024-01-27 . ABC News . en-AU.
  28. Web site: TFRRS Patrick Tiernan – Track and Field Results & Statistics . 2023-11-10 . www.tfrrs.org.