Patterson Medal Winners
Flanagan, Shalane
Shalane Flanagan
- Induction:
- 2004
- Class:
- 2004
2004— Shalane Flanagan: Women's Track and Field and Cross Country (Marblehead, Mass.)
One of the most decorated student-athletes in ACC history and one of the top U.S. distance runners ever, winning four NCAA titles, 18 U.S. championships and the 2017 New York City Marathon, a member of four U.S. Olympic teams and the ACC’s only four-time men's or women's cross country champion.
 In 2004, she was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Teams in cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
She won NCAA cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 (and finished fourth in 2000), the NCAA indoor 3000 meters in 2003, was a member of the NCAA champion distance medley relay in 2003, won individual 15 ACC titles and earned 14 All-America honors. Flanagan was the NCAA Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and won the Honda Award for cross country in 2002 and 2003. She also won the NCAA Cross Country Southeast Regional four times.
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The Tar Heel women won the ACC team title in three of her four seasons.
In addition to the four NCAA titles, she had six other top-10 finishes in NCAA Championship competitions. Those included three second-place showings (DMR in 2001 and 2002, 5000 meters in 2003) and two third-place finishes (indoor mile in 2002 and 5000 meters in 2003).
She won both the ACC indoor mile and the outdoor 1500 meters three times, was a two-time ACC champion in the 5000 meters and a two-time member of winning distance medley relays. She was the ACC indoor meet MVP in 2002 and the outdoor meet MVP in 2003.
Flanagan set ACC records in the 1500 (4:11.60) and 5000 meters (15:30.60) and ACC championship meet records in the 1500 (4:13.05), 5000 (15:47.75), indoor mile (4:37.41), indoor 3000 meters (9:19.85) and distance medley relay (11:36.20).
She ran in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, earning a silver medal in the 10,000 in 2008 and placing sixth in the marathon in 2016. She also competed in six world championships, finishing third in cross country in 2011.
Among her 18 U.S. championships were six in each of the three racing disciplines – cross country, road and track.
In 2017, Flanagan won the New York City Marathon, becoming the first U.S. winner in 40 years.
She joined the University of Oregon as distance coach in 2022.
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One of the most decorated student-athletes in ACC history and one of the top U.S. distance runners ever, winning four NCAA titles, 18 U.S. championships and the 2017 New York City Marathon, a member of four U.S. Olympic teams and the ACC’s only four-time men's or women's cross country champion.
 In 2004, she was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Teams in cross country, indoor and outdoor track.
She won NCAA cross country titles in 2002 and 2003 (and finished fourth in 2000), the NCAA indoor 3000 meters in 2003, was a member of the NCAA champion distance medley relay in 2003, won individual 15 ACC titles and earned 14 All-America honors. Flanagan was the NCAA Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and won the Honda Award for cross country in 2002 and 2003. She also won the NCAA Cross Country Southeast Regional four times.
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The Tar Heel women won the ACC team title in three of her four seasons.
In addition to the four NCAA titles, she had six other top-10 finishes in NCAA Championship competitions. Those included three second-place showings (DMR in 2001 and 2002, 5000 meters in 2003) and two third-place finishes (indoor mile in 2002 and 5000 meters in 2003).
She won both the ACC indoor mile and the outdoor 1500 meters three times, was a two-time ACC champion in the 5000 meters and a two-time member of winning distance medley relays. She was the ACC indoor meet MVP in 2002 and the outdoor meet MVP in 2003.
Flanagan set ACC records in the 1500 (4:11.60) and 5000 meters (15:30.60) and ACC championship meet records in the 1500 (4:13.05), 5000 (15:47.75), indoor mile (4:37.41), indoor 3000 meters (9:19.85) and distance medley relay (11:36.20).
She ran in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, earning a silver medal in the 10,000 in 2008 and placing sixth in the marathon in 2016. She also competed in six world championships, finishing third in cross country in 2011.
Among her 18 U.S. championships were six in each of the three racing disciplines – cross country, road and track.
In 2017, Flanagan won the New York City Marathon, becoming the first U.S. winner in 40 years.
She joined the University of Oregon as distance coach in 2022.
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