University of San Francisco Athletics

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the greatest American female distance runners of all time is joining the University of San Francisco men's and women's cross country and track coaching staff, as head coach Pat McCurry announced Saturday the hiring of multi-time Olympian, U.S. champion, World Championship medalist, world and American record holder, and San Francisco native Shannon Rowbury as the program's new volunteer assistant.
 
"We are thrilled to have Shannon involved in our program," said McCurry. "Her longevity at the highest levels in our sport is truly remarkable. More critical to us, though, is her tremendous character and the mentoring she can provide our young women and men as they aspire to reach their own athletic potential. Throw on top her San Francisco roots and it's a home run on all fronts.
 
"Given the caliber of athletes here and the quality of coaching, I think it's a great opportunity for all of us to work together to reach a very high level of success," said Rowbury.
 
WORLD-CLASS EXPERIENCE
 
Rowbury brings to The Hilltop more than a decade of experience competing at the highest levels of cross country and track, winning championships and setting records all along the way. She has competed in three different Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016) and is a seven-time U.S. Champion (four indoor titles, two outdoor titles, one road mile championship). She has held multiple American records, including the current U.S. record in the 1,500 meters at 3 minutes, 56.29 seconds. She is the former American record holder in the 5,000 (14:38.92) and the two mile (9:20.25). Rowbury was also part of the world-record setting U.S. outdoor distance medley relay team in 2015, a record that still stands today at 10:36.50.
 
As a collegiate athlete at Duke University (2002-07), she was a six-time All-American while winning the 2007 NCAA Championship in the indoor mile. She was also a six-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the mile, 1,500, 3,000, and in cross country. When she left Duke, she held school records in the 800, mile, 1,500, 3,000 (current school record), 4 x 800 relay, 4 x 1,500 relay (current school record), and the distance medley relay.
 
NEW BEGINNINGS
 
Rowbury joins a brand new coaching staff at USF with McCurry in his first season, and assistants who have all been on campus for two seasons or less in a new era for San Francisco cross country and track. Rowbury's current professional coach with the Nike Oregon Project, Pete Julian, helped make the connection with USF through Associate Head Coach Tim Riley and McCurry.
 
"It's fun to be involved with building something," said Rowbury. "I like being able to get in on the ground floor and craft and create a legacy. With the amount of experience that I have, coupled with the experience of the coaches, I think I can contribute some great insight. And I look to them, because you never stop learning."
 
Rowbury will continue to train and compete as a professional athlete while working with the Dons. She is sponsored by Nike and is currently coached by the legendary Julian at the Nike Oregon Project. Working at the University of San Francisco, she will be just blocks away from where she grew up in the Parkside area of the Sunset District.
 
"IMAGINING MORE"
 
Rowbury also runs a non-profit organization that she started with her husband Pablo Solares – also a national record holder in the 1,500 and mile from Mexico – called "Imagining More," where the couple focuses on encouraging young women in sports and art. They started the organization in 2012 and have been doing projects, giving out scholarships and holding art exhibits ever since.
 
"Encouraging young women in sports is very important to me," said Rowbury. "I think it's our obligation to leave the world a little better than when we arrived. So for me, I try to find ways to give back. I am where I am right now because of all the selfless acts of all the people that helped me along the way.
 
"There aren't a lot of women in coaching roles," she added. "Women's involvement in athletics is still very young. Every coach I've had has been a man, and I've achieved such great success with their guidance, but I'd love to share my experiences and act as a compliment to this team. My experience as a top-10 world athlete for the last decade has afforded me a lot of wisdom that I hope to share."
 
For more information on Rowbury's non-profit organization, "Imagining More," visit the organization's website at imaginingmore.org.
 
COMING UP
 
The San Francisco men's (ninth) and women's (11th) cross country teams both started the month of October ranked among the West Region's top-15 teams. The Dons will run in the Pre-Nationals meet on Oct. 13 at the University of Wisconsin's Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. They then head to the 2018 West Coast Conference Championships on Oct. 27 in Provo, Utah.