Mike McWilliams was one of the most decorated student-athletes in any sport in Notre Dame history, earning four All-America honors in cross country from 1990-93 while leading the Fighting Irish to three top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Monogram Club Turns 100: Cross Country

Sept. 23, 2015

Monogram Club Turns 100: Cross Country Photo Gallery

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Notre Dame Monogram Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015-16. In honor of reaching the century mark, Fighting Irish Media will present a look at some of the top student-athletes in each Notre Dame sport. First up, the Fighting Irish men’s and women’s cross country programs, which have achieved enormous success through the years, winning the 1957 NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship and more recently placing third at the NCAA meet on the women’s side in 2002 and the men’s event in 2005. We recognize the significant contributions of all of our student-athletes in all of our Fighting Irish sports and realize the following list, while noteworthy, is not all-inclusive.

Men’s Cross Country

Mike McWilliams
Mike McWilliams was one of two four-time All-Americans to suit up for the Irish (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993). He was a member of three Top 10 squads at the NCAA championships, leading the team in the individual standings at two respective championship meets (1992 and 1993).

Patrick Smyth
Patrick Smyth was a three-time All-American for the Irish (2006, 2007, 2008). He led the team Top 20 finishes at the NCAA championships in 2006 and 2008.

Oliver Hunter
Oliver Hunter raced to an individual national championship at the 1942 NCAA Cross Country Championships. He completed his career as a four-time All-American (1940, 1941, 1942, 1943) — one of only two Irish to receive All-America status four consecutive seasons.

Greg Rice
At the 1938 NCAA Cross Country Championships, the first sponsored by the NCAA, Greg Rice became the first-ever cross country national champion, running the four-mile course in 20:12.9. The finish propelled the team to a second-place team finish. Rice finished his career as a two-time All-American.

Ryan Shay
Ryan Shay was one of Notre Dame’s most decorated distance runners in cross country as well as track field, earning an NCAA title in the 10,000-meter race at the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championships. In cross country, Shay was a two-time All-American (1999, 2001).

Women’s Cross Country

Molly Huddle
Molly Huddle is one of the most accomplished Notre Dame women’s distance runners, but also a fixture for the U.S. Track and Field team. A three-time All-American in the collegiate cross country (2002, 2003, 2005), she was also a two-time cross country runner-up at the USTF Cross Country championships (2011, 2010). She helped lead the Irish women to a program best third-place finish at the NCAA championships in 2002.

Lauren King
Lauren King was a three-time All-American during her time at Notre Dame (2001, 2002, 2003). She was the team’s top finisher at the NCAA championships in 2001 and 2003, both of which resulted in a Top 20 finish for the Irish.

Stephanie Madia
Stephanie Madia was a two-time All-American (2004, 2005) and helped propel the Irish to consecutive Big East titles in 2002 and 2003, as well as 2005. Madia was also Notre Dame’s highest individual finisher at the NCAA championships in 2004 and 2005.

JoAnna Deeter
JoAnna Deeter was a two-time All-American for the Irish (1996, 1998). She claimed third at the 1996 NCAA Cross Country Championships, which is tied with Stephanie Madia for the highest individual finish posted by the Irish women at NCAAs.

Sunni Olding
Sunni Olding was a two-time All-American, earning the recognition in 2004 and 2005. She was a key member of the Irish squads that placed Top 10 at both the 2004 and 2005 NCAA championships.

— Ashley Albertson, Athletics Communications Assistant Director