Photo by: Don Juan Moore
Two Orange Alums Selected as RRCA Roads Scholars
10/31/2016 12:26:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Syracuse alums Martin Hehir and Robert Molke were selected as two of the Road Runners Club of America 2016 Roads Scholar Grantees.
Two-of-six recipients of the grant, Hehir and Molke will each receive $5,000 and were selected from a large pool of applicants. The goal of the Roads Scholar grant fund is to assist American post-collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class professional, road running athletes. The grants awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to support their training needs.
"Every year, our selection committee makes tough choices in deciding our Roads Scholar grantees from a deserving pool of emerging American elite runners," said Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. "Like past Roads Scholar classes, we look forward to the successes of our newest grantees as they pursue their running and Olympic dreams."
Hehir is one of the most decorated athletes in Syracuse University history. In addition to being a cornerstone of the program's most successful era since the 1950s, Hehir led the Orange to the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championship.
A Washingtonville, N.Y. native, Hehir was a three-time ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was a four-time All-American and finished seventh at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Washington, D.C. Hehir recently signed with HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite.
"Earning this grant is such a great fortune to me, and my future in this sport," said Hehir. "I cannot thank the RRCA enough for believing in young, aspiring runners and providing them with the means to follow their passions."
 Molke was a standout in cross country and track, leading the Orange to its first top-10 appearance in over-50 years at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where the squad finished 10th. The 2014 Doris Soladay Award Winner, which is considered Syracuse University's most prestigious award a student-athlete can receive, Molke was also a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 2013.
After his career with the Orange, the New Jersey native has competed for the New York Athletic Club while working for the New York Road Runners. He now competes for Team USA Minnesota and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after an 18th place finish at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in 2015.
"I am thrilled to receive this grant," Molke said. "I am very excited for my future in the sport, very appreciative of the selection, and looking forward to running with RRCA's support in 2017."
Since 1996, RRCA has awarded grants totaling more than $530,000 to 118 athletes through its Roads Scholar® program. At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, sixteen Roads Scholar grantees raced for Team USA berths to Rio with the 4th, 5th and 6th place male finishers (Luke Puskedra, Tyler Pennel & Matt Llano) being recent Roads Scholar grantees, a testament of the program's positive impact.
The Syracuse cross country team will next compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional on Nov. 11 in the Bronx, N.Y.
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Two-of-six recipients of the grant, Hehir and Molke will each receive $5,000 and were selected from a large pool of applicants. The goal of the Roads Scholar grant fund is to assist American post-collegiate runners who show great promise to develop into national and world class professional, road running athletes. The grants awarded by the RRCA go directly to the athletes to support their training needs.
"Every year, our selection committee makes tough choices in deciding our Roads Scholar grantees from a deserving pool of emerging American elite runners," said Jean Knaack, RRCA executive director. "Like past Roads Scholar classes, we look forward to the successes of our newest grantees as they pursue their running and Olympic dreams."
Hehir is one of the most decorated athletes in Syracuse University history. In addition to being a cornerstone of the program's most successful era since the 1950s, Hehir led the Orange to the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championship.
A Washingtonville, N.Y. native, Hehir was a three-time ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was a four-time All-American and finished seventh at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Washington, D.C. Hehir recently signed with HOKA ONE ONE Northern Arizona Elite.
"Earning this grant is such a great fortune to me, and my future in this sport," said Hehir. "I cannot thank the RRCA enough for believing in young, aspiring runners and providing them with the means to follow their passions."
 Molke was a standout in cross country and track, leading the Orange to its first top-10 appearance in over-50 years at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where the squad finished 10th. The 2014 Doris Soladay Award Winner, which is considered Syracuse University's most prestigious award a student-athlete can receive, Molke was also a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 2013.
After his career with the Orange, the New Jersey native has competed for the New York Athletic Club while working for the New York Road Runners. He now competes for Team USA Minnesota and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after an 18th place finish at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in 2015.
"I am thrilled to receive this grant," Molke said. "I am very excited for my future in the sport, very appreciative of the selection, and looking forward to running with RRCA's support in 2017."
Since 1996, RRCA has awarded grants totaling more than $530,000 to 118 athletes through its Roads Scholar® program. At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, sixteen Roads Scholar grantees raced for Team USA berths to Rio with the 4th, 5th and 6th place male finishers (Luke Puskedra, Tyler Pennel & Matt Llano) being recent Roads Scholar grantees, a testament of the program's positive impact.
The Syracuse cross country team will next compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional on Nov. 11 in the Bronx, N.Y.
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