The Liberty League is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the 2019-2020 academic year. Originally founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) in 1995, the conference was renamed the Liberty League during the summer of 2004. Each Thursday throughout the year, the Liberty League will be celebrating its silver anniversary by recognizing outstanding teams and individuals from its rich 25-year history.
As teams prepare for this weekend’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Ky., the Liberty League recognizes one of the top men’s cross country and track and field student-athletes in its 25-year history. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Grant O’Connor ’19 was a nine-time All-American during his time with the Engineer cross country and track and field programs.
O'Connor is among the most decorated student-athletes in RPI Athletics history. As a four-year standout in both cross country and track & field - and a two-year captain in both - he earned All-America accolades three times in cross country, two times in indoor track and field and four times in outdoor track and field. They include: a national championship in the 5,000 meters and a national runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship; third in the 10,000 meters at the 2017 outdoor championship; third in the 5,000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championship; third in the 5,000 meters and fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2019 outdoor championship; a school-record fourth-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship; and 25th and 23rd at the 2016 and 2018 cross country championships, respectively.
O’Connor was selected the USTFCCCA National Track Athlete of the Year in 2018 - Rensselaer's first - after registering the most individual points at the NCAA Championship (18); the Atlantic Region Athlete of the Year five times, including three in track & field; the Liberty League Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year twice; and the conference's Track Athlete of the Year three times. A two-time NCAA Atlantic Region Championship Meet individual champion - the only one in school history - O'Connor was the Liberty League Rookie of the Year in cross country in 2015.
Among the Rensselaer and Liberty League records he held at the time of his graduation were in the outdoor 10,000 meters (29:19.53), which is eighth all-time in Division III history, and in the indoor 5,000 meters (15:17.84). He is second on both record boards in the outdoor 5,000 meters (14:09.85).
O'Connor, who finished first in 18 meets or events in his career and second 17 times, helped the Engineers capture three Liberty League cross country titles, including the first in school history in 2016, and one NCAA Atlantic Region Cross Country Championship, which is the only one in school history. Rensselaer won four conference outdoor track & field championships and finished as high as fifth at the NCAA Championship (2018). The cross country teams had three top 15 national finishes and combined with track & field to rank ninth and sixth in the nation the past two years, respectively.
An electrical engineering and computer & systems engineering dual major with a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, O'Connor was named to the 2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Division III Track & Field/Cross Country Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He consistently appeared on the Dean's List throughout his time at Rensselaer. He earned Liberty League All-Academic awards three times each in cross country and track & field and was honored as a U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection six times in total. He held engineering internships at Otis Elevator Co. (2016 & 2017) and Polaris Industries (2018) before accepting a full-time position with Raytheon.
25th Anniversary Spotlight Series:
10/24/2019 - 1999 St. Lawrence University Men's Soccer
10/31/2019 - Sara Artus, Clarkson University Volleyball (2008-2011)
11/7/2019 - Ali Marpet, Hobart College, Football (2011-2015)
11/14/2019 - 1997 William Smith College Field Hockey