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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

McDougal Concludes Busy Weekend with 7:57 3K

Posted December 2nd, 2007 at 10:28 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Liberty University senior Josh McDougal, seeking a second NCAA automatic qualifier in as many days at the Liberty Kickoff, fell just short on Sunday afternoon at the Tolsma Indoor Track Center. However, his official time of 7:57.90 set a facility record and earned provisional qualification to the national meet.

The race, which wrapped up the three-day, season-opening meet in Lynchburg, Va., was McDougal’s (Peru, N.Y.) third in the last two weeks. The stretch began with his NCAA National Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 19 and also included a 13:45.16 5K performance on Saturday.

The 3K field included just two entrants, McDougal and Liberty student Sam Chelanga, who placed second in Saturday’s 5K. McDougal pushed the pace from the very beginning, with Chelanga in tow, and the duo clocked 2:34 for the opening kilometer. McDougal then started to break away from Chelanga just before the mile mark, which the senior crossed in 4:10.
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Liberty XC Teams Defend Big South Titles; McDougal Becomes First 4-Time Champ

Posted October 29th, 2007 at 9:22 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

Saturday morning’s results at the New Balance Big South Cross Country Championships must have incited a bit of déjà vu among the conference’s coaches. For the second-straight season, Josh McDougal led a 1-2-3 Flames finish on the men’s side, helping Liberty win its third-consecutive conference title. Meanwhile, the Lady Flames earned a narrow victory over Coastal Carolina for the second-straight time, in the meet hosted by UNC Asheville at Jackson Park.

McDougal (Sr., Peru, N.Y.) won the men’s 8K championship by 1:07 on a challenging course, becoming the first runner in Big South history to win four individual cross country titles. Jordan McDougal (R-Jr., Peru, N.Y.) and Jarvis Jelen (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) followed McDougal across the line, enabling Liberty to defeat High Point, 27-58, for its ninth Big South men’s cross country title. Winthrop came in third, with 75 points.

The Lady Flames saw four runners claim All-Big South honors, paced by conference runner-up Piper Newby (Sr., Hayden Lake, Idaho). Liberty held off Coastal Carolina by three points, 36-39, after defeating the Lady Chanticleers by five markers last season. The triumph was the fifth in school history.
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Podcast 90: Liberty Univ. standout JOSH MCDOUGAL

Posted October 6th, 2007 at 4:15 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Track & Field, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

Episode 90 of TheFinalSprint.com Podcast features my interview with Liberty University’s cross country and track & field standout JOSH MCDOUGAL.

In the interview, Josh talks about his season debut and victory at the Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational, going out on top in his final year of NCAA competition, his greatest accomplishments thus far, and plans to remain near Liberty when he begins his professional career.

Download the podcast to hear Josh discuss these topics, as well as, thoughts of running a marathon in the future, his predictions for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Marathon Trials, being home schooled during his high school years, being teammates with his brother Jordan, his running heroes, and the importance of both faith and family.

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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Josh McDougal
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt, Darnell Perkins
File Size: 10.3 MB | Length: 15:05 MIN

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

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Interview with Liberty’s Josh McDougal on the upcoming NCAA XC season

Posted September 5th, 2007 at 8:45 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: News & Results, Cross Country, Special Features, Interviews

Liberty’s Josh McDougal has developed into one of America’s finest distance runners. With 4th, 13th, and 27th place finishes at the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships, McDougal looks to be the top finisher this upcoming season.

Q. Can you explain how you first got starting in the sport of track and field?
I grew up running a few miles a week with my parents. They were trying to stay in shape, and I was always an active kid so it was always fun to go out and run.

A. When I was 10 my family moved a town over to Peru to be closer to where my Dad worked. One of our new neighbors was the high school cross country and track coach. She saw us out running and suggested we do the Junior Olympic series. That first year we did the JO’s Jordan and I just showed up and ran, no real preparation whatsoever. It was really hard, we both puked after our first race, and Mom and Dad were sure we would never want to do anything like that again. We both loved it though and have been serious ever since.

To read the rest of this interview conducted by our friends at Joffroi Running, please CLICK HERE.

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