Brid O'Connell

Photo by: Josh Armstrong

Photo by: Josh Armstrong

Class:
Junior
Events:
400m
Hometown:
Eastchester, N.Y.
Height:
5-8
High School:
Eastchester
Squadron:
28 Blackbirds

JUNIOR YEAR | 2020-21: Ran the 800-meter leg of the distance medley relay that accounted for the seventh-fastest outdoor time in Academy history (11:30.20) at the Drake Relays…competed in 800-meter races during four outdoor meets…recorded a career-best time of 2:11.88 at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships…that was the second-fastest time on the team in 2021...claimed a third-place finish at the Baylor Invitational…competed in the 400-meter dash twice during the outdoor season…clocked a team-leading, career-best time of 57.64 at the Aztec Invitational…competed in the 400-meter dash once during the indoor season…academic all-conference selection.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2019-20: Helped both indoor relays impact the program’s all-time standings for the second straight year...earned all-conference honors as a member of the distance medley relay that used the fourth-fastest time in Academy history (11:38.55, adjusted for altitude) to finish third at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...also ran the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay that combined for the second-fastest time in program history (3:48.35) and a sixth-place finish at the conference meet...competed in the 800-meter run during six meets...clocked a career-best time of 2:14.79a to place within the top half of the field at the Don Kirby Invitational...claimed a win in that event at the Air Force Holiday Open and was the top collegiate finisher at the Air Force Invitational (second overall)...competed in the 400-meter dash twice, winning the Air Force Collegiate Open with a personal-best time of 58.08...academic all-conference selection.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2018-19: Ran on two relays that impacted the Academy’s all-time standings at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...anchored the 4x400-meter relay (3:50.31) and ran the third leg of the distance medley relay (11:44.85, adjusted for altitude) that accounted for the fourth-fastest times in Academy history during scoring finishes at the conference meet...also ran the 400-meter dash during four indoor meets...clocked a career-best time of 58.99 to finish within the top half of the field at the Colorado Invitational...made collegiate debut at the Air Force Holiday Open, posting a time of 41.82 to finish 17th out of 51 runners...competed in two meets during the outdoor season...earned runner-up honors in the 400-meter dash at the Jerry Quiller Classic (60.65)...ran in the 800-meter event at the Aztec Invitational, clocking a time of 2:22.33...academic all-conference selection.

HIGH SCHOOL: Eastchester High School...broke the school’s 38-year-old record in the 300-meter dash (41.03) and the 39-year-old school record in the 400-meter dash (57.86)...earned the Athlete of the Year award as a senior...two-time MVP (winter track, spring track)...earned all-league and all-conference honors for both winter and spring track...ranked within the top 10-percent of high school...received the Albert Einstein Math award...finished second in a STEM competition...member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society and Math Honor Society...earned The Wellesley College Book Award...competed in Model Congress at Yale as a junior and senior...served as Sergeant-in-Arms for that club.

PERSONAL: Full name is Brid Caroline O’Connell...nickname is “Bird”...daughter of Peter and Caroline O’Connell...parents are originally from Ireland...has two older brothers, including one who was a member of the cross country and track teams at Binghamton University...majoring in operations research...named to the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s List...earned Jump Wings in the summer of 2019...hobbies include Irish Step Dancing...plays the fiddle...earned a scholarship to travel to Ireland for the Fleadh Cheoil...also competed at Oireachtas, the regional Irish Step Dance championships, earning a pair of top-six finishes...first girl from Eastchester to run at a Division I institution...member of Cadet Squadron 13.