University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2013
- Class:
- 1998
Rebecca Donaghue helped the UMass women's cross country program begin its stretch of five straight Atlantic 10 Championships, leading the Minutewomen to the conference titles in 1995, 1996 and 1997 with individual championships her junior and senior seasons and a second-place finish as a sophomore in 1995.
The native of Stow, Mass., was a two-time NCAA qualifier in cross country in 1995 and 1996 and was a four-time all-Atlantic 10 honoree.
In indoor track & field, Donaghue won an individual title in the 800 meters at the Atlantic 10 championship as a freshman in 1995 then took home gold in the 800 meters and the mile as a sophomore in 1996, helping the Minutewomen to their first indoor Atlantic 10 championship that same season. She repeated as A-10 champion in the mile the following season as a junior.
After graduating in 1998 with a degree in Art Education, Donaghue went on to compete internationally as a professional distance runner. Among her professional highlights, she finished second in the 2009 USATF 5k and 10k Road Championships and made her marathon debut with a 17th place finish at the 2012 USATF Olympic Trials.
Donaghue was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2013.
