An absolute icon at Adams State University in the sport of distance running, Eilish Flanagan had what was her best season of her career on the green in 2019. Her most memorable performance came back on October 5^th, when she not only won the highly competitive and prestigious Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, PA, but she also set the course record in the women's 6K.
 
The Grizzlies traveled to Pennsylvania for what was their biggest meet of the season to date. It was their chance to flex their muscle against Division I teams on the National stage, with perhaps one of the best teams they have ever had on the women's side. Eilish's sister Roisin as well as teammate Stephanie Cotter, who were major pieces of the team, would not run, as they both stayed in Alamosa. It was Flanagan's time to shine, as she entered the meet the favorite to win, and one of the top athletes in the entire sport of collegiate distance running.
 
But the day that Flanagan had was one that no one could have seen coming. She ran a lifetime best in the Women's 6K, won the race outright by over six seconds, and set a new Paul Short Run record with a time of 19:37.1. In the 46 years that the race has been around, she is the top female competitor to ever run the course, which is a highly-prestigious honor considering the meet hosts some of the best runners nationwide on all levels of collegiate competition every year.
 
The winning time led the Grizzlies to a second-place finish overall, and was perhaps a precursor of what was to come later on in the season, with the Grizzlies taking the conference, regional, and national championships in November.
 
My friend Jackson Roberts wrote a blog last summer about Eilish and her sister Roisin's journey to becoming two of the best Adams State has ever had, and how they have developed into such dominant runners. The blog can be found by clicking the link: https://allthingsrunningjackson.wordpress.com/.
 
Flanagan's season culminated with a National Runner-Up finish at the National Championships, where she helped the Grizzlies to their 57^th National Title as a program. Her journey did not end there, as she, her sister, and Stephanie Cotter traveled to Portugal for the European U23 Cross Country Championships, where they represented team Ireland on the World Stage.
 
A truly dedicated and driven runner, it will be fun to see where running takes Eilish Flanagan after her career as a Grizzly is finished. She is one of the most incredible runners to ever don Adams State Green, and her performance back on October 5^th embodied true greatness. Her moment takes the number two spot on our countdown, and be sure to tune in tomorrow for number one.