EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern cross country head coach 'A Havahla Haynes on Friday announced the addition of Kelly O'Brien to the program. She will enroll and begin competition this fall.
"We are excited to have Kelly join our family," said Haynes, who is bringing in her first recruiting class as head coach of the Wildcats. "Along with her three classmates that signed National Letters of Intent in the fall, these women will have an immediate impact on the trajectory and depth of our program."
Kelly O'Brien:
Palatine, IL // Palatine
High School: Earned four varsity letters in cross country and four in track & field for the Pirates … Earned team MVP honors three times in cross country and twice in track during her scholastic career … Personal bests of 4:54 in the 1600 and 10:57.1 in the 3200 … Registered a Top-3 finish at the 2014 IHSA Class 3A Cross Country Championships … Led Palatine to a runner-up team finish at the 2014 Illinois Championships … Posted a seventh-place finish at the 2014 All-Region Meet … 2014 Mid-Suburban League Cross Country champion, and 2015 runner-up in the event … Earned All-State honors in the 4x800 relay in track & field … Established school track records in the 1600m (indoor and outdoor) and 600m (indoor) events.
Personal: Parents Mary and Bill O'Brien … Her major us undecided … Three-time member of the All-Academic Team (2013-15) … Four-year honor roll student … Two-time recipient of the Scholastic Achievement Award (2014-15) … National Honor Society treasurer.
"We are excited to have Kelly join our family," said Haynes, who is bringing in her first recruiting class as head coach of the Wildcats. "Along with her three classmates that signed National Letters of Intent in the fall, these women will have an immediate impact on the trajectory and depth of our program."
Kelly O'Brien:
Palatine, IL // Palatine
High School: Earned four varsity letters in cross country and four in track & field for the Pirates … Earned team MVP honors three times in cross country and twice in track during her scholastic career … Personal bests of 4:54 in the 1600 and 10:57.1 in the 3200 … Registered a Top-3 finish at the 2014 IHSA Class 3A Cross Country Championships … Led Palatine to a runner-up team finish at the 2014 Illinois Championships … Posted a seventh-place finish at the 2014 All-Region Meet … 2014 Mid-Suburban League Cross Country champion, and 2015 runner-up in the event … Earned All-State honors in the 4x800 relay in track & field … Established school track records in the 1600m (indoor and outdoor) and 600m (indoor) events.
Personal: Parents Mary and Bill O'Brien … Her major us undecided … Three-time member of the All-Academic Team (2013-15) … Four-year honor roll student … Two-time recipient of the Scholastic Achievement Award (2014-15) … National Honor Society treasurer.