June 21, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame seniors Todd Mobley (West Bloomfield, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS) and Sean O’Donnell (Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst HS) have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Track and Field/Cross Country Team, it was announced Tuesday. Mobley was a first-team selection for the second consecutive year, becoming the first Irish men’s track athlete ever to earn first-team Academic All-America honors twice. Meanwhile, O’Donnell made his initial appearance on the squad, garnering third-team laurels. It’s the fourth time two Notre Dame men’s track standouts have received Academic All-America recognition in the same year, and the first since 2002 when Ryan Shay and Luke Watson were so honored.
Mobley and O’Donnell were among a group of 46 track student-athletes to be selected for this year’s Academic All-America Team, which was selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average (GPA), must be a starter or important reserve and be in at least their second season of athletic and academic eligibility at their current school.
Mobley recently completed his college career as a four-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection (twice in the outdoor 10,000-meter run, twice in cross country). He also helped Notre Dame to BIG EAST track titles in 2004 (outdoor) and 2005 (indoor), as well as the 2001 BIG EAST cross country championship. He returned in 2005 for a fifth year of eligibility in track only, after missing the 2003 season with a leg injury, and promptly qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the 10,000-meter run. He has a 3.854 GPA in the Mendoza College of Business, where he’s presently working towards his MBA.
O’Donnell earned all-BIG EAST honors in cross country after helping Notre Dame edge out Georgetown for the conference title this season. He also qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the 5,000-meter run and scored points in that race at both the BIG EAST indoor and outdoor meets, as the Irish won the indoor championship and finished second at the conference outdoor event. O’Donnell did not compete in track during the 2002 season and thus is eligible to return for a fifth year of competition in that sport next year. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Engineering, posting a 3.854 GPA.
With this year’s selections of Mobley and O’Donnell, Notre Dame now has had nine men’s track/cross country athletes earn Academic All-America honors, with Mobley, Watson and Jason Rexing each receiving the distinction twice.
— ND —