Brian Farrell from Wicklow who competes for Stony Brook University has begun the indoor campaign with four impressive performances. Farrell, who is coached by Irish Olympian Andy Ronan (Co Wexford), has run 14.46.2 (5,000m), 8.30.49 (3,000m) and 4.12.09 in the mile.

His marks in mile and 3k meet the qualification standards for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) championships slated for 4th-5th March 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Farrell won the 5,000m event in 14.46.2 at the Fordham Christmas Classic held at Vincent T. Lombardi Center Fieldhouse on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx, New York on 9th December.

Farrell's Stony Brook teammate Lenora Joy (Auckland, New Zealand) won the mile in 5.00.5 ahead of a pair of Irish runners. Tracey Williams (Tallaght AC) and Michelle Gallagher (Dundrum South Dublin) who both compete for Iona College placed second (5.10.0) and third (5.10.6) respectively.

Farrell, a senior, picked up the Stony Brook University Athlete of the Week honours as he led the Seawolves sweep of the top four spots in the 5000-metre event.

Farrell, 22, ran 4.13.61 to place third in the mile at the Fordham Invitational Indoor Track meeting held at the historic 168th Armory track in New York City on 6th January. A fortnight later, he improved on his personal best running 4.12.09 to win the mile at the Great Dane Classic also run on the Armory track. Farrell moved into the lead with 500-metres to go in the race and held on to win by more than two ticks over runner-up Mike Ceblua of Southern Connecticut who finished in 4.14.92.

Farrell also posted a runner-up finish in the 3000-metre event to lead the Stony Brook men's indoor track and field team at the Yale Intercollegiate Track Classic on Saturday, 14th January at the Coxe Cage facility at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Farrell crossed second in a Metropolitan Championship qualifying time of 8.30.49 to lead the Seawolves.