Philip O'Connell Hometown: Rye, N.Y. High School: Fordham Prep Position: Cross Country/Distance Experience: Jr./Jr.

On O'Connell: Has gained a good level of experience over his first two seasons on the team ... Will look to be a contributor to the squad in the middle distance events during the indoor and outdoor seasons ... Top events are the 1000 meters indoors and the 1500 meters outdoors.

2012 Indoor: Qualified for the BIG EAST Championships and the IC4A Championship for the first time with a mark of 1:53.85 in the 800 meters ... That time came at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, where he finished seventh in the college section of the event ... Earlier in the season came in 10th in the 800 meters (1:55.79) at the Penn State National and 21st (1:57.56) at the Great Dane Classic ... Placed 21st in the 1000 meters at the NYC Gotham Cup (2:33.73).

2011 Cross Country: Opened the season with a 58th place finish in the Main Line Invitational ... Also came in 17th at the Haverford Invitational with a time of 20:36 on the same four-mile course ... Placed 208th in the Men's Open race at the Paul Short Run with an 8K time of 28:20.

2011 Outdoor: Came in 45th place in the 1500 meters at the Big Five Invite with a time of 4:22.12 in his only race of the season.

2011 Indoor: Set a personal best time in the 800 meters with a mark of 1:55.61 at the Albany Great Dane Invitational ... Ran three times in the 1000 meters, placing 24th at the Penn State National with his best time of the season (2:31.07) ... Came in 14th at the NYRR I meet (2:31.87) and 15th at the NYRR II meet (2:33.20) ... Runner-up in the Mile at the Jack Pyrah Invitational with a time of 4:34.95.

2010 Cross Country: Competed in the Main Line Invitational and the Haverford Invitational, both on the four-mile course at Haverford ... Was an unattached runner at the season-opening Main Line meet and posted a time of 21:50.79 to finish in 51st place ... Finished in 25th place out of 81 runners at the Haverford Invitational with a time of 21:16.32.

2010 Outdoor: Redshirted ... Ran unattached during the season ... Had a top time of 1:59.33 in the 800 meters at the Princeton Quad Meet ... Placed 13th in the event at the Villanova Duals ... Finished in 13th place at Penn in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:07.86 ... Came in 10th in his section at the Widener Invitational ... Placed 14th in the 400 meters (53.77) at the Villanova Duals.

2010 Indoor: Redshirted ... Competed unattached ... Placed fourth in his section of the 800 meters at the NYRR I meet ... Improved his time to a season-best 1:59.38 at the NYRR II meet ... Came in 15th overall at the Seamus McGelligott Invitational at Haverford ... Finished eighth in the 1000 meters at both the Jack Pyrah Invitational and the Penn State Relays.

2009 Cross Country: Redshirted ... Lined up unattached twice during the season ... Posted an 8K time of 27:35 in the open race at the Paul Short Run ... Ran a four-mile time of 22:40.44 at the Main Line Invitational.

Fordham Prep: School record holder in the 4x800 meter relay ... Ran the leadoff leg of that relay at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Personal: Oldest of four sons of Donald and Suzanne O'Connell ... Has three younger brothers, Douglas (18), Gregory (15) and Stephen (13) ... Mother ran cross country and track at Villanova and is a 1982 gradaute of the university ... Undeclared major in the school of Liberal Arts.

PERSONAL BESTS

400 Meters              53.77          2010 Villanova Duals
800 Meters              1:53.85        2012 New Balance Collegiate Invitational
1500 Meters             4:07.86        2010 Penn Invitational
Mile                    4:34.95        2010 Jack Pyrah Invitational
8000 Meters (XC)        27:35          2009 Paul Short Run

CAREER AWARDS

BIG EAST Academic All-Star             2010-11