John Treacy World Cross Country 1978/1979

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

Was looking for this ages ago but couldn’t find it! It comes up on my feed months later of it’s own accord! 😅. Those hills look absolutely gruelling! John Tracy- legendary x country runner but could also beat Steve Ovett on the track and got a silver medal in the Olympic marathon! Legend! Cheers for posting

[@Alex-pr6zv]

I was there as a 12 year old, on the steep hill. The course was a quagmire and the weather was truly miserable, but John Treacy didn't mind because he was in a class of his own.

[@The6pruz]

John Treacy, who won two world XC titles, was a legend in his own time, and nobody could run better than him in the mud. Extremely thin with pale white skin, he didn't look dominant, but boy could he run! Tough as nails and one of the greatest of his era. That's his brother coaching at Providence College in the US, correct? I was always told they were brothers.

[@brendanhogan9881]

Magnificent win by John Treacy. Interesting to see the recently deceased Harry Gorman at 10:30 waving the Ireland scarf.

[@RenataG07]

Matt Gray here.. so my H.S. coach was Marc Hunter. He was in the '78 race. He said that race organizers were so worried weeks before the race because there was no mud, no "ruff terrain". They wanted some rain before the race to make the course tough. So a week before the race they trucked in mud. Then nearly every day within the last week: constant rain..thus more mud and it was a show he said, too much mud, overkill. He said for Arbogast, the stars aligned, and he had the race of his life..Marc Hunter: great guy and a hell of a "Shriner"

[@johnmc3862]

You need to be tough as nails in that event.

[@hermes3430]

Thank you for posting-

[@jasonaltham7013]

The Mudlark at his best.

[@thomasholmes7070]

Sounds like Jack Whitaker, reporting! A true legend.

[@macalsionmacalsion1434]

Fred Cogley?

[@ianpalmer2220]

Brendan O Reilly

[@andrewdunne1735]

​@@ianpalmer2220It most certainly is Brendan O'Reilly of RTE Sport

[@kmkfox12]

Looks like the Tough Mudder Run.

[@rorybrennan360]

Shame about the sound.

[@johnmc3862]

At least there is sound.

[@simonedwards8888]

Not a Kenyan or Ethiopian in sight !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@stevedgolfer]

Don't you mean Turkish athletes 😂😂😂

[@loveboaterboy8352]

Back in those day the Kenyans and Ethiopians hadn't realised they could run!!!!

[@AnthonyMcqueen1987]

This was before their dominance started but they were coming up in 1977 they took over the 10k world record and the rest is history.