June 28, 2004
University of North Carolina track standout Shalane Flanagan
will forego her final year of track eligibility and turn professional,
effective immediately. In 2002, Flanagan was named to the Atlantic Coast
Conference's 50th Anniversary Teams in cross country, indoor and outdoor
track.
A four-time NCAA champion, Flanagan won 15 ACC individual titles and was a
14-time All-America.
The Marblehead, Mass., native won her second consecutive NCAA cross country
championship in November 2003, then sat out the winter and spring track
seasons to prepare for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials (July 9-18 in
Sacramento, Calif.).
Flanagan will compete in the 1500 and 5000 meters at the U.S. Trials. She
has already met the Olympic "A" qualifying standard in the 5000.
"With encouragement from my family, Coach (Dennis) Craddock and Coach
(Michael) Whittlesey, I have decided to pursue a professional career in
running," said Flanagan. "There are a number of professional opportunities
that come about in an Olympic year in which we feel I should compete.
"It has been an honor to be a part of Carolina. I will never forget the
feeling of wearing the Carolina blue jersey and stepping out onto the
cross-country course or track. I knew then I was a part of something
special, a program committed to being the best and dedicated to doing things
with integrity and class. I have learned this is the Carolina way. I will
still remain an integral part of the Carolina track team."
Flanagan won NCAA cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 and finished fourth
in 2000. She is one of only three women to win two NCAA cross country titles
and was the NCAA Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003
and won the Honda Award for cross country in 2002 and 2003.
"Shalane has represented the University with class and distinction for four
years and that is sure to continue during her professional racing career,"
said head coach Dennis Craddock. "This is both a happy and sad time for us -
happy because we know it is time for Shalane to take her talents to the next
level, but sad because we will miss her as part of our program on a daily
basis. It is almost impossible to fully measure the impact she has had on
our program and on collegiate track. She is a once in a generation
competitor."
Flanagan won the ACC cross country title and NCAA Southeast Regional crown
in each of her four seasons. She is the only four-time champion - men's or
women's - in ACC cross country history. The Tar Heel women won the ACC team
title in three of her four seasons.
In track, Flanagan won the NCAA indoor 3000 meters in 2003, was a member of
the NCAA champion distance medley relay in 2003 and posted 10 Top 10 NCAA
finishes. Those included three second-place showings (DMR in 2001 and 2002,
5000 meters in 2003) and two third-place finishes (indoor mile in 2002 and
5000 meters in 2003).
Flanagan won the indoor mile and the outdoor 1500 meters at the ACC
Championships in each of her three seasons. She also was a two-time ACC
champion in the 5000 meters and two-time member of winning distance medley
relays. She was named ACC indoor meet MVP in 2002 and the outdoor meet MVP
in 2003.
Flanagan holds ACC alltime records in the 1500 (4:11.60) and 5000 meters
(15:30.60) and ACC championship meet records in the 1500 (4:13.05), 5000
(15:47.75), indoor mile (4:37.41), indoor 3000 meters (9:19.85) and distance
medley relay (11:36.20).
"I want to thank everyone who has shown me outstanding support over the past
four years - including my family, Dick Baddour, Beth Miller, the academic
center staff, the Rams Club and its members and Don Fisher of Lexington,
whose endowed scholarship I received," says Flanagan. "Finally, I want to
thank my Carolina family who has filled my life with rich experiences,
friends and memories."
