Nursing was the hook to get Eileen Brennan-Erler to go to the University of San Francisco back in 1979. But while she was diligently studying, she was also pioneering athletics for the Dons. USF began offering cross country in the 1977-1978 season, and Brennan-Erler came to the University two years later, one of the earliest athletes in the program.
Brennan-Erler was oft mentioned in the San Francisco Foghorn, "With all the successful team, there are the talented few leading the3 pack through a series of hills, a difficult stretch of road, or jockeying for position off a crowded starting line. Within the talented few is the one particular runner who distinguished herself by her past performances and her current improvements. The leader of the women's team whose running talent is gradually becoming of age is the runner of which we speak now. Eileen Brennan is that runner … Hearing of Eileen's past track excellence when already fully cognizant of her prodigious accomplishments from this past season made Eileen all the more deserving of special recognition (Chris Nowak)."
"It was quite well known that some colleges had more to offer [to female athletes] than others," Brennan-Erler recalled, "but I feel like USF was really making an effort, even when we were here, the fact that there was a cross country team and they brought us to big meets and started to buy us things. I saw the progression and there was a real sense that USF was trying to work toward Title IX and equality."
Brennan-Erler continues both nursing and running, to this day, working as a medical science liaison at Veridia Diagnostics. You'll also find her racing with the Impala Racing Team, something she started participating in 35 years ago when still a student on the Hilltop, and something that she's continued doing ever since.
