Julie Shea, NC State: Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, Class of 2023

Julie Shea, a trailblazing distance runner, became the first female collegian to claim seven national collegiate distance titles. Her impressive accomplishments began with a 5000-meter victory at the 1979 AIAW Track & Field Championships. Later that year, she secured her second title by winning at the 1979 AIAW Cross Country Championships.

Shea’s next three titles came in quick succession at the 1980 AIAW Championships. She achieved a historic feat, becoming the first woman to win a national collegiate distance triple by claiming victories in the 10,000-meter event on Friday, followed by the 5000-meter and 3000-meter events on Saturday. Her triumph in the 10k race was particularly significant, as Shea set a collegiate record of 33:02.32 while leading a 1-2-3 sweep of NC State runners, including her younger sister Mary in second place.

In her senior track season in 1981, Shea demonstrated her versatility, setting an all-time collegiate best of 2:30:54 in the Boston Marathon. Less than six weeks later, she returned to the track for her final collegiate appearance, winning a third consecutive AIAW 5k title, marking her seventh and final national title.