Ed Moran '05 captures Pan-American gold

Ed Moran, MPP class of '05, added another chapter to his storied career when he captured the gold medal in the 5,000-meter event at the 15th Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 23. It is the first gold medal at the Pan-Am Games in the history of the Tribe track program.

Moran, in his first appearance on Team USA, won the title with a meet-record pace of 13:25.60, more than two seconds better than runner-up Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico. The old record was set by another Mexican runner, Amando Quintanilla, who ran 13:30.36 in 1995.

After his victory, Moran described the race in a statement that appeared on the USA Track and Field (USAT&F) Web site: "It set up well early. My strategy was to see what the pace was after 2k. I knew as long as I stayed in contact (with the leaders), I could close. I decided to go with 1,000 meters left because I felt that could take the legs out of the big kickers. I knew as soon as I committed that I had to commit to the finish."

Already in 2007, Moran has posted Olympic “A” standard runs of 13:20.35 for 5,000 meters and 27:43.13 for 10,000 meters; as long as he finishes in the top-three of either event at the U.S. Olympic Trials, he will be assured a spot on Team USA at the Beijing Olympic Games.

A four-time All-American for the Tribe between 2000 and 2005, Moran earned his spot at the Pan-American Games by finishing fifth at the USAT&F National Championships 5,000-meter event in June. Also a full-time assistant with both the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams for the past two years, Moran has helped the Tribe earn six conference championships, an eighth-place finish at the NCAA cross country championships for the men’s team, an All-American in Christo Landry (Falls Church, Va.), and NCAA track qualifiers in Landry and Keith Bechtol (’07).

William and Mary will look to earn its second gold medal of the Pan-Am Games on Sunday, July 29, when 2004 graduate Jacob Frey competes in the marathon.