At the 2024 Penn Relays, Villanova attempted to chase down history in the 4xMile. A team comprised of senior Liam Murphy, junior Sean Donoghue, sixth-year Charlie O’Donovan and sophomore Marco Langon ran a 15:51.91. It is the fastest collegiate 4xMile ever and the second fastest time in world history.
A member of the fastest 4xMile in world history happened to also be the head coach of that Villanova relay team.
Marcus O’Sullivan (‘84) ran with the Ireland National Team and helped set the 4xMile world record of 15:49.08 on Aug. 17, 1985.
O’Sullivan was once a Wildcat himself and joined Villanova’s track and field program in 1980 by way of Cork, Ireland. He is now the Frank J. Kelly Endowed Track & Field Coach at Villanova and has been for 27 years.
During his time at Villanova, he was a part of the national championship distance medley team in 1981 and the national championship two-mile relay team in 1983. Over four years, O’Sullivan won 10 Big East titles and received 16 all-Big East honors. He was also an eight-time all-American.
O’Sullivan graduated from Villanova as an undergraduate in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He returned to the University to earn his Master of Business Administration in 1989.
Villanova left the 1983 Penn Relays empty-handed O’Sullivan’s junior year.
“It was the first time in 20 years we walked out of Penn Relays, and not one of us won anything,” O’Sullivan said. “And it was a moment where I almost quit school, almost went home, and with the help of Donal [Walsh], my coach, he redirected me and got me back on track.”
Next year, O’Sullivan went on to help win the Penn Relays, and he qualified for the 1984 Olympics.
After his record-setting years at Villanova, O’Sullivan continued his running career at the professional level. Right out of college, he qualified for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, representing Ireland.
Throughout his 15-year professional career, O’Sullivan qualified for four Olympic Games and even reached the finals at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics in the 1,500-meter. He was sponsored by countless brands, such as New Balance, Reebok, Nike and Powerade.
Most notably, O’Sullivan won gold in the 1,500-meter three times at the World Indoor Championships (‘87, ‘89 and ‘93).
By the end of his running career, O’Sullivan had run more than 100 sub-four-minute miles. Only three people have ever achieved that accomplishment.
After stepping away from professional running in the late 1990s, O’Sullivan had no intention of staying in touch with the sport. He did not want to coach, and he for sure was done running. That was until, eventually, he was asked to help find a new track and field coach for Villanova.
O’Sullivan somehow found himself as the Villanova track and field coach. Though he loved running, he quickly developed a dislike for coaching.
“We went to the NCAA Championships my first year,” O’Sullivan said. So, there was success in that first year, but it was just, for me, it was a miserable year. I started to realize it was not what I wanted to do. I literally did not want to do this as a career.”
He soon realized that coaching athletes to faster times was not what would fulfill him.
In his second season as coach, one of his athletes’ mothers passed away.
“We took the kids to the funeral, and I kind of had a moment where I felt like we were doing something good,” O’Sullivan said. “We were doing something non-track. I thought there was something rewarding about bringing the team there. I think that was a turning point for me at that point I realized there’s more to this coaching than just coaching. When I am allowed to intervene with kids and help them grow as individuals, I think that’s been the most rewarding part of my job.”
That was when it clicked for O’Sullivan that coaching had a bigger picture. It was not always about the times on the paper, but about growing young student-athletes into responsible and successful people.
“I wouldn’t have coached anywhere else,” O’Sullivan said. “I wouldn’t have left coaching and gone into another coaching [job]. I would have gone back into a different career. I’m pretty positive about that. I stayed because it was Villanova, and I stayed because I felt like I was able to make some impact in some way. And that was fulfilling. And that gave me a sense of purpose.”
O’Sullivan will help the men’s track and field team prepare for its upcoming Big East Indoor Championship on Feb. 28.
