Click here for Rory's TFRRS profile
Notable Awards
- All-American - Cross Country (2022)
- All-West Region - Cross Country (2022)
- CCAA Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year (2022)
- All-CCAA (2022)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic (2022)
- Chico Enterprise-Record Senior Male Athlete of the Year (2022-23)
As a Senior (2023 - T&F)
- Competed in two events: Mike Fanelli Track Classic and the Wildcat Invitational
- Ran the 1,500m (3:53.49) and 5,000m (14:49.28) run at the Wildcat Invitational
- Appeared in the distance medley relay at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, running a time of 10:11.21d
As a Senior (2022 - XC)
- Part of the CCAA Championship team
- Named CCAA Runner of the Year
- Won the CCAA Championships with a time of 24:45.2 in the 8K
- Finished 25th at the NCAA CHampionships
- Took third at the NCAA West Regional Championships, running a personal-best time of 30:14.6
As a Junior (2021 - XC)
- Began the cross country season with a 39th place finish (8k time of 26:13.2) September 10, 2021 at the San Francisco State Invitational
- Recorded a time of 25:11.1 on the way to placing 19th September 25, 2021 at the Cougar Challenge
- Posted a 15th place finish October 9, 2021 at the Western Washington Bill Roe Classic, completing the 10k layout in 32:12.9…Earned All-CCAA honors with a seventh place finish (8k time of 24:56.3) October 23, 2021 at the CCAA Cross Country Championships, helping the Wildcat men capture the program’s 19th consecutive conference crown
- Delivered a 10k time of 31:19.4 to finish 13th and earn All-West Region honors November 6, 2021 at the NCAA West Regional
- Wrapped up the fall with a 143rd place finish (10k time of 33:01.8) November 20, 2021 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Saint Leo, Florida
- On the track, competed primarily in the 1,500- and 5,000-meter runs
- Provided a solid leg in the Wildcats’ school and meet record time (9:58.69) in the distance medley relay April 2, 2022 at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic
- Posted a personal best 5k time of 14:26.48 May 15, 2022 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
- Earned a pair of All-CCAA honors by finishing second in the 1,500m (3:47.09) and third in the 5,000m (14:27.74) May 7, 2022 at the CCAA Track & Field Championships
- Ran the seventh-fastest 1,500m time in program history (3:44.64) May 26, 2022 during the NCAA Track & Field Championship preliminaries
- Followed it up on May 28 with a sixth place finish (3:47.86) in the 1,500m finals, earning All-America honors
- 2021–22 CCAA All-Academic selection
- Named to both the USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country and Track & Field Teams.
As a Sophomore (2021 T&F)
Did not compete in either cross country or track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a Sophomore (2020 T&F)
Did not compete in either cross country or track due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a Sophomore (2019 -XC)
- Named All-CCAA and conference Newcomer of the Year in cross country in 2019
- Opened the season posting an 8k time of 25:45.0 on the way to a 13th place finish September 13, 2019 at the Stump Invitational
- Placed 39th and notched season-best 8k time (24:49.9) September 28, 2019 at the Capital Cross Challenge
- Finished 11th at with a 10k time of 32:29.4 October 12 at the Western Washington Classic
- Placed 11th at the CCAA Championships, recording an 8k time of 25:16.7 and helping the Wildcats win the program’s 18th straight cross country conference title
- Wrapped up the XC campaign with a 42nd place showing (season-best 10k time of 30:52.4) November 23, 2019 at the NCAA XC Championships in Sacramento
- Did not run during the 2020 track & field season
- Earned 2019–20 CCAA All-Academic honors.
As a Freshman (2018)
- Redshirted both cross country and track & field during his freshman year
- Finished 83rd at the Capital Cross Challenge with a 25:51 debut for the 8k distance
- Placed 16th in the open race at the Bronco Invite with a personal best time of 25:14
- Concluded his fall season with an 11th place finish at the Doc Adams Invitational..
- Opened the track season with 4:04 1,500m and 1:59 800m performances at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic
- Recorded his first sub-four minute clocking at the Chico Twilight Inviational with a 3:59 run
- Lowered his 1,500 PR to 3:56 at the Bryan Clay Invitational
- Recorded a PR in the 800m with a 1:56 at the Brutus Hamilton Open
- Finished the 2019 campaign with a 3:55 PR for the 1,500 at the Portland Twilight Invitational.
Pre-Chico Days
- Enjoyed outstanding senior year running at West Torrance High School in Torrance
- Helped lead the Warriors to three CIF Southern Section cross country crowns and the 2017 State Division III championship
- Recorded a personal best time of 15:21at the Mt. SAC Invitational before winning his second Pioneer League XC individual championship
- Earned All-State D-III XC honors in 2017
- On the track, notched an early-season 4:20/9:28 1600/3200m double at the Redondo Invitational
- Dropped his 1600m PR to 4:18 while placing third in the CIF Preliminaries
- At CIF Finals, finished at 4:12.1 to place second and earn All-CIF Southern Section accolades
- Took second at the Masters meet with a school-record time of 4:11.26 to qualify for the state championships
- Won his preliminary heat (4:12.00) at the state before concluding the 2018 season with a fifth place finish in the state final at 4:13.06, earning All-State honors.
Personal
- Born April 1, 2000, in Harbor City
- Son of Patrick and Mary
- Has one older brother, Conor
- In the sports world, admires the 2015 Leicester City football club (“The best underdog story in all of sports”)
- Favorite course at Chico State is Intercultural Communications Theories and Practice, taught by Young Cheon Cho
- Why he chose to attend Chico State: “The great area and team history”
- His greatest sports moment was “running at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, with all the Chico fans cheering the team on”
- The most interesting thing he’s ever done is travel several times to Ireland
- The most impressive thing he’s ever accomplished is winning the state cross country championship in high school
- Has learned by competing in distance running that “discipline is more important than motivation”
- Enjoys bowling, playing cards, and watching TV when he has some free time
- Considers trivia his biggest non-sports talent
- Is the son of two Irish immigrants
- At the top of his bucket list: “See the Los Angeles Clippers win an NBA championship”
- Best advice ever received he attributes to Tony Soprano of
The Sopranos: “Remember the little moments”
- Majoring in communications and organizational communication
- Plans to pursue a career in public relations.
