April 19, 2002
By Simit Shah – Injuries have derailed many promising athletic careers, but Brendon Mahoney was determined not to become another statistic.
After sitting out most of his sophomore year with a leg injury, the Yellow Jackets’ track star has returned to form this season, earning both all-ACC and all-America honors.
A highly decorated athlete at the nearby Marist School, Mahoney’s collegiate career got off to a running start. He was named the ACC Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year after capturing conference championships in the mile and 800 meter events. A strong showing in the 800 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earned him all-America status.
On the heels of his success on the track, Mahoney competed in cross country the next fall. Towards the end of the season, he suffered an iliotibial band injury.
Commonly referred to as the IT band, the area runs along the outer thigh muscle from the hip to knee. The injury is common among competitive runners, but it forced Mahoney to miss the indoor track season, which extends from January to March.
“It’s a tenacious injury,” said cross country head coach Alan Drosky. “When it flares up, it’s difficult to get rid of quickly.”
Mahoney was able to suit up for the outdoor season, but a quadricep injury in his second meet forced Mahoney to take a medical redshirt for the year.
The situation was frustrating on many levels for Mahoney, but most importantly, he was unable to help his team.
“That was tough, and on top of that seeing my competitors accomplish feats that I knew I could do,” he recalled. “It was definitely tough sitting on the sidelines.”
After fully rehabilitating the injuries, Mahoney began taking more preventative measures to ensure his ability to compete.
“I’ve really been thankful for staying healthy so far this season,” he said. “That was my main goal. I knew if I stayed healthy, I could accomplish a lot.”
And his accomplishments have surpassed all expectations this season. A victory in the 800 meters and a second place finish in the mile at the ACC Indoor Championships in February earned him the ACC Indoor Most Valuable Performer honor.
Mahoney’s performance has not dropped off during the spring outdoor season. He has already qualified for the NCAA and USA Track and Field championships in the 1500-meter event.
“I have high expectations for myself to regain the ground that I had lost, especially in the ACC,” said Mahoney. “As far as being one of the top contenders nationally for the 1500, it’s definitely a big surprise.”
Mahoney has clearly distinguished himself as one of the elite runners in the nation, so that begs the obvious question: is he thinking about the Olympics?
“Always,” Mahoney states. “I set long-term and short-term goals. One of my long-term goals is definitely the Olympics. I have a lot of things to accomplish before I get there, but that’s something I aspire to.
“As far as short-term, I’d like to be a national champion. I’d like to help our team win an ACC championship, and then I’d like to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.”
Mahoney still has two years of eligibility left after this season, and he has a chance to leave a lasting legacy in the school’s record books.
“He is quickly establishing himself as one of the best ones that we’ve ever had,” said Drosky, who is also a track team assistant coach. “With two years after this year, he had the opportunity to be the best. He’s capable of that.”
The man Mahoney is chasing is former Tech great David Krummenacker, who was all-ACC 16 times and all-America nine times, winning two national titles from 1994-98. Entering the ACC Outdoor Championships this weekend, Mahoney has been named all-ACC five times and all-America twice.
For the time being, Mahoney is focused on a strong finish to the outdoor season, but he has a greater appreciation for his success.
“I heard the quote, ‘wisdom only comes through hardship.’ Wisdom is definitely something I’ve gained the last year. I’ve learned the importance of looking out for the little things in life. Often the small details are overlooked, but those are the details that make champions.”
