Toowoomba Olympian Patrick Tiernan shines in cross country

Stepping away from his more favoured tartan track, Toowoomba Olympian Patrick Tiernan has played a key role in guiding Team Australia to success on a different stage. Read about the runner’s latest achievement here.

Team Australia Cross Country members (from left) Andre Waring, Liam Adams. Haftu Strintzos, Edwards Marks, Zach Facioni and Patrick Tiernan. Picture: Athletics Australia

Stepping off the tartan track, Toowoomba’s Patrick Tiernan played a leading role in Team Australia’s impressive 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships result at the weekend.

Australia finished fifth in the team standings behind powerhouse running nations Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Spain at the championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.

One of six Team Australia members, Tiernan finished 30th in the field of 111 runners.

Patrick Tiernan of Team Australia competes in the Men's 10,000m Final on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

The collective efforts of the top four Aussie finishers, including Haftu Strintzos (23rd), Edwards Marks (24th) and Liam Adams (29th), secured the team a top five spot.

“I won’t lie, I didn’t know how we would fare as a team, but it was really inspiring out there,” Tiernan said.

“It shows just what a great place Australian distance running is in.

“It’s something we as a team and as a country should be really proud of.”

Back in Aussie green and gold for the first time since 2019, Paige Campbell finished 31st and Melissa Duncan, the only other Aussie in the senior women’s race, finished 51st.

Senior male and female runners had to complete five laps of the 2km course.