June 24, 2003

Shalane Flanagan, one of the most accomplished athletes in University of North Carolina and Atlantic Coast Conference history, will return to Carolina for her fourth year this fall to run cross country, but will not compete in the 2004 indoor and outdoor track seasons in order that she may concentrate on the upcoming United States Olympic Trials.

Flanagan will not sign with an agent and will not turn professional. The Marblehead, Mass., native will compete in her final season of cross country in 2003. The Olympic Trials will be held July 8-18, 2004, in Sacramento, Calif. The Olympics are in August 2004 in Greece.

Flanagan will finish her indoor and outdoor track eligibility in 2005.

"Contrary to what some people have thought, I am not going to turn professional, but I am going to sit out next track season so I may concentrate on preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials," says Flanagan. "I will run cross country in the fall with the hope of winning another individual title and more importantly, helping Carolina challenge for a national championship.

"I will stay in school in the spring and practice with the team, but I feel it will be necessary to train more and race less to be ready for the Trials. Obviously, my ultimate goal is to represent the United States in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. I wish to thank my teammates and coaches at UNC for their unwavering support."

This past year, Flanagan was selected one of the ACC's 50 Greatest Athletes in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. She was one of eight women to be named to all three teams. She then won two individual NCAA titles and an NCAA relay and was second in an NCAA individual event.

"This is a courageous decision for Shalane, one which we support 100 percent," says head track and field coach Dennis Craddock. "She could have taken the opportunity to sign a professional contract and give up her remaining collegiate eligibility, but she loves to compete for the University of North Carolina and her teammates. She is a special young lady, on and off the track. She had another phenomenal year and we look forward to watching her do more special things over the next few years. Before her career is finished, I believe Carolina fans will be mentioning her name among the greatest Tar Heels of all time."

In 2002, Flanagan was the National Cross Country Performer of the Year for the second year in a row, won the Honda Award for cross country and was NCAA, NCAA District and ACC cross country champion. She set a course record in winning the NCAA cross country title. Earlier in the fall, she had won the ACC cross country title for the third straight year.

Flanagan became the 2003 NCAA champion in the indoor 3000 meters and Distance Medley Relay. She won the 3000 in 9:01.05 and set a Carolina record in the 3000. At the ACC championships, she was first in the mile.

This past spring, she was NCAA runner-up and USA Nationals runner-up in the 5000, an event she just began to run this year. She was named the ACC Championship Most Outstanding Performer and NCAA District Performer of the Year.

Flanagan won the 1500 and 5000 at the ACC Championships, establishing an ACC meet record and alltime ACC record in the 1500 with a time of 4:13.05, the second-fastest in the country this year. She also set the meet record in winning the 5000 in 15:47.75. She later lowered her ACC 1500 meter record to 4:11.60.

She won the 5000 at the NCAA Eastern Regional, then set the alltime ACC record in the 5000 when she finished second at the NCAA Championships in 15:30.60. She then shattered that mark a week later when she ran 15:20.54 in a second-place finish at the U.S. National Championships.

Flanagan also was a member of three winning relays at the prestigious Penn Relays (DMR, 4x800 and 4x1500) in April 2003.

In 2002, Flanagan was a member of UNC's relay quartet that set an American record in the Distance Medley Relay in finishing second at the NCAA indoor championship. She was third in the 1,500 at the 2002 NCAA outdoor championship.

In cross country, she was fourth at NCAAs as a freshman, an All-America in 2001 and champion in 2002.