Earlier this year we had good reason to mention the progress made by American teenager and promising athletics star, Shane Brosnan.
Shane, whose dad is from Cahernard here in Castleisland, keeps posting impressive indicators of the promise he holds. At the end of last January he posted a third place finish in the High School Invitational Mile at the famed Millrose Games in New York.
This race was run in a record time and Shane finished in a time of 4:09 – and this didn’t go unnoticed in U.S. athletics circles.
Move to Harvard University
And Shane, who committed to Harvard University this year, will join the track team and its associated coaching programme there this month.
Shane is a son of Tracey and the Cahernard born, New Jersey domiciled Séamus Brosnan and a grandson of Denis and Catherine.
During a visit to the home of his grandparents, in Castleisland in July 2021, the New Jersey, USA based athlete ran for An Ríocht AC in Templemore and he won the Munster U-20 3000m at the meeting.
New Jersey State Finals
On his return to the US, his high school coach set some lofty goals and Shane and his team signed up for them.
This helped qualify them for the New Jersey state finals. Shane came third and, again, led his team to their first state win.
In the course of 2021 he also went on to qualify for the U.S. national individual cross country championship by placing fifth in the northeast region with over 300 runners.
This race was watched in person by his grandparents Denis and Catherine Brosnan who were visiting at the time.
US Newspaper Reports
The New Jersey paper The Star Ledger reported on a red letter race win for Shane’s school, Union Catholic High School.
“Union Catholic High School, nicknamed Vikings, is coached by Mike McCabe who has trained high school athletes to national titles, national records, and even the Olympic gold medalists.
“But the man who has been named coach of the year on multiple occasions had never won a coveted Penn Relays wheel title.
Heartbreaking Setbacks for Vikings
“After several heartbreaking setbacks, Vikings’ program finally captured its signature Franklin Field moment in the famed stadium in Philadelphia and was a first for the NJ based Union Catholic high school.
“Shane Brosnan, who was recovering from an injury had a good lead going into the anchor 1600m leg of the relay.
However, the lead was being eaten into by the Rhode Island champion Kipyego.
Equalled Records Set in 1966
“It looked like the New Jersey curse was to strike again and that Shane would be overtaken with 100m to go but he never surrendered and kept fighting through to the finish line to deliver the first championship of America/Penn Relay Wheel for his coach and team.”
The team then went on to win the National Outdoor 4 x 1 mile high school relay sponsored by New Balance and in doing so equaled the NJ state record set back in 1966!
Currently, Shane has recovered from his calf injury and is in Flagstaff, Arizona doing some pre-season high altitude training with his new team members from Harvard University where he is attend from this August.
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