Irish in the Olympics Day 8: Molly Huddle sets American record
By Greg Hadley
Friday marked a banner day for Notre Dame athletes at the Olympics, as Molly Huddle set an American record in the women’s 10,000 and Gerek Meinhardt claimed bronze in the men’s foil.
In the first track and field final of the Games, Molly Huddle took part in one of the fastest 10,000-meter races in history. Though she finished sixth overall, her time of 30:13.17 smashed the previous American record by more than nine seconds, and she helped push those in front of her to record times as well.
Congrats @MollyHuddle! New AR in a tough race, keeping it honest. https://t.co/Uugg3WC1YB
— Notre Dame XC/TF (@NDXCTF) August 12, 2016
The race’s victor, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana, broke the 23-year-old world record by more than 14 seconds. Behind her, three other runners all finished with top-five fastest times ever. So Huddle’s performance, while not medal-worthy, would have won gold in almost any other Olympics since the event was introduced in 1988.
Meanwhile, fencer Gerek Meinhardt became the first Irish athlete to claim a medal in the 2016 Games, as he led the U.S. to a bronze in the men’s foil team competition.
Rio marked Meinhardt’s third Games, but after being eliminated in the individual competition earlier this week, he was in danger of leaving Brazil without having ever won a medal.
But in the bronze medal bout against Italy, the former Notre Dame great gave the Americans a lead they would never surrender as he dominated his opponent.
https://twitter.com/NDFencing/status/764203091898040320
Competing for Team Canada, Notre Dame alums had a quiet day Friday.
In women’s basketball, Natalie Achonwa and her teammates put up a fight early on but could not overcome the juggernaut that is the U.S. women’s team, who rolled to an 81-51 win. Achonwa had six points, three rebounds and an assist but was 2-for-6 from the field.
In women’s soccer, Melissa Tancredi sat out Canada’s 1-0 win over France in the quarterfinals. After scoring two goals against Germany in the final game of group play, Tancredi rested while her teammates assured their spot in the semis and their chance to equal or improve upon their bronze medal from London.
Next: Notre Dame baseball: Irish in the MLB
Lastly, U.S. men’s basketball assistant coach Monty Williams and his team endured another close matchup, just barely edging Serbia, 94-91.