The International Athlete

John Treacy winning the 1979 World Cross-Country Championship in Limerick, 1979.

John Treacy winning the World Cross-Country Championship in Limerick on the 25th March 1979. The photograph is taken from the Waterford News and Star 150th Anniversary (1848 -1998)Supplement.

© Waterford News and Star - Nicky Heffernan gave permission to use.

John Treacy winning the 1979 World Cross-Country Championship in Limerick, 1979.
© Waterford News and Star - Nicky Heffernan gave permission to use.

John Treacy winning the 1979 World Cross-Country Championship in Limerick, 1979.

John Treacy winning the World Cross-Country Championship in Limerick on the 25th March 1979. The photograph is taken from the Waterford News and Star 150th Anniversary (1848 -1998)Supplement.

© Waterford News and Star - Nicky Heffernan gave permission to use.

Enlarge image

John Treacy's number 138 vest worn in the 1979 World Cross-Country Championships.

John Treacy's winning vest for the 1979 World Cross-Country Championship, currently on display in the Waterford Crystal Sports Centre.

© Waterford Crystal Sports Centre - Michael Evans gave permission to use.

John Treacy's number 138 vest worn in the 1979 World Cross-Country Championships.
© Waterford Crystal Sports Centre - Michael Evans gave permission to use.

John Treacy's number 138 vest worn in the 1979 World Cross-Country Championships.

John Treacy's winning vest for the 1979 World Cross-Country Championship, currently on display in the Waterford Crystal Sports Centre.

© Waterford Crystal Sports Centre - Michael Evans gave permission to use.

Enlarge image

John progressed quickly to the international stage, at just sixteen he finished third for Ireland in 1974 in the World Junior Cross-Country championship in Monza, Italy. He finished third in the same race the following year, running in Rabat, Morocco, the Irish team came a close second to the U.S.A.

 

John's increasing success earned him an American Athletics Scholarship to study and train in Providence College, Rhode Island. He excelled in athletic and academics, qualifying with a BS in accountancy and an MBA.


 

World Cross-Country Champion 1978 and 1979

While he was still at Providence College, twenty year old John became well know nationally and international as the 1978 World Cross-Country champion. The championship took place in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on the 25th March 1978. Ireland had never provided a winner in this race. John, crossing the finishing line covered in mud to take home the gold medal amidst great excitement from all the Irish who attended.



 

The following year the race took place at Green Park Racecourse in Limerick. Again the weather was bad; the ground was wet, with lots of mud. A large crowd attended to cheer on the favourite John Treacy and the Irish team. John ran a great race and after a surge at the half way stage, went on to win the race retaining the title for Ireland. Ireland also came second in the team event - a great result for such a small country.




John continued to have success at cross country running for many years at national and international level. In 1984 he finished 13th in the World Cross Country championship, which took place in New Jersey.