Andrew Lemoncello
Encyclopedia
Andrew Lemoncello is a Scottish long distance runner who competes in the 3000 metres steeplechase and the marathon
events. He won a team junior gold medal
at the 2001 European Cross Country Championships
and won a scholarship to attend Florida State University
in 2004. At Florida he was second in the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
in the steeplechase.
He has represented Great Britain at the World Championships in Athletics in 2005 and 2007. He ran in the steeplechase event at the 2008 Summer Olympics
. Lemoncello completed his debut marathon in 2010, finishing eighth in the London Marathon
.
, Japan
to an American father and Scottish mother, Lemoncello grew up in St Andrews
Scotland
where he attended Madras College
. While at Madras College he broke all distance running records and still holds them as of 2007. After school he attended Stirling University and continued his progress at the on campus Scottish Institute of Sport. Throughout this time he was an active runner for the Fife Athletics Club. While at Stirling and Madras he won the Scottish National Championship sixteen times, he was a member of the gold winning European Cross Country team, came third at the 2004 British University Cross Country Championships, finished eighth at the World Mountain Running Championships
2004 and was the British University Champion in the 5000 m and 10000 m events.
in Tallahassee in 2004. Lemoncello was an instant hit on the FSU athletics scene winning the ACC performer of the week at his first outing for FSU.
In his first year at FSU he led the team to first place at the Florida Intercollegiate Championships. He also came only one second short of the university's 8000 m record. At the NCAA South Regional Championships Lemoncello placed fifth and led his college team "The Seminoles" to first place. At the national NCAA Championships Lemoncello was the Seminoles top scorer placing 50th in the 10000 m run.
In 2005 Lemoncello continued his outstanding form winning the 5000 m and 10000 m titles at the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference
Outdoor Track Championship. He also became FSU all time record holder for the 3000 m steeplechase
by shattering the 29-year-old record by more than 15 seconds. He also won the ACC indoor 3000 m steeplechase title. Lemoncello ended the season rated 2nd in the region and 12th in the nation at the 10000 m.
Lemoncello did not let his form slip in 2006 season, smashing four more FSU records to hold 5 school records (Cross Country 8000 m, Indoor 5000 m, Outdoor 5000 m, 3000 m Steeplechase and the 10000 m). He led the field from start to finish to clinch the ACC 3000 m Steeplechase title. At the NCAA Lemoncello posted 12th in the 5000 m 5th in the 10000 m and second in the steeple to underline his credentials. Lemoncello joined the McMillanElite training group based in Flagstaff, Arizona
in 2007, under the direction of Coach Greg McMillan.
Lemoncello had to withdraw from the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Australia due to commitments at FSU, Lemoncello had exams and the NCAA Indoor Championships in the days leading up to the games and would not have had sufficient time to acclimatise in order to perform at his best.
but did not progress beyond the heats. He returned for the 2007 World Championships
but again did not get past the heat stage. He made the world championship team after running 27:57 10,000m at Brutus Hamilton Invitational on the track. Lemoncello ran in the senior race at the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
but finished in 78th place. He represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
, again begin knocked out in the heats of the steeplechase. He took part in the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
in Birmingham
and was 26th. He closed the year with a 29th place finish at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships
.
Lemoncello made his marathon
debut in April 2010 at the London Marathon
. He finished in a time of 2:13:40 for eighth place as the first European man to cross the line. In September he took to the streets of Sheffield for the Great Yorkshire Run
and finished in fourth place with a time of 29:08 minutes.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
events. He won a team junior gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 2001 European Cross Country Championships
2001 European Cross Country Championships
The 8th European Cross Country Championships were held at Thun in Switzerland on 9 December 2001. Serhiy Lebid took his second title in the men's competition and Yamna Belkacem won the women's race.-Men individual 9.15km:Total 77 competitors-Men teams:...
and won a scholarship to attend Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 2004. At Florida he was second in the NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
in the steeplechase.
He has represented Great Britain at the World Championships in Athletics in 2005 and 2007. He ran in the steeplechase event at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. Lemoncello completed his debut marathon in 2010, finishing eighth in the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
.
Early life
Born on October 12, 1982 in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to an American father and Scottish mother, Lemoncello grew up in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where he attended Madras College
Madras College
Madras College is a secondary school in St. Andrews, Fife in Scotland.-History:Madras College, founded in 1832, takes its name from the system of education devised by the school's founder, the Rev Dr Andrew Bell....
. While at Madras College he broke all distance running records and still holds them as of 2007. After school he attended Stirling University and continued his progress at the on campus Scottish Institute of Sport. Throughout this time he was an active runner for the Fife Athletics Club. While at Stirling and Madras he won the Scottish National Championship sixteen times, he was a member of the gold winning European Cross Country team, came third at the 2004 British University Cross Country Championships, finished eighth at the World Mountain Running Championships
World Mountain Running Championships
The World Mountain Running Championships is an international mountain running competition contested by athletes of the members of WMRA, World Mountain Running Association, the sport's global governing body....
2004 and was the British University Champion in the 5000 m and 10000 m events.
College athletics
Due to his outstanding performances and promise Lemoncello gained a scholarship to study at Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in Tallahassee in 2004. Lemoncello was an instant hit on the FSU athletics scene winning the ACC performer of the week at his first outing for FSU.
In his first year at FSU he led the team to first place at the Florida Intercollegiate Championships. He also came only one second short of the university's 8000 m record. At the NCAA South Regional Championships Lemoncello placed fifth and led his college team "The Seminoles" to first place. At the national NCAA Championships Lemoncello was the Seminoles top scorer placing 50th in the 10000 m run.
In 2005 Lemoncello continued his outstanding form winning the 5000 m and 10000 m titles at the 2005 Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Outdoor Track Championship. He also became FSU all time record holder for the 3000 m steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
by shattering the 29-year-old record by more than 15 seconds. He also won the ACC indoor 3000 m steeplechase title. Lemoncello ended the season rated 2nd in the region and 12th in the nation at the 10000 m.
Lemoncello did not let his form slip in 2006 season, smashing four more FSU records to hold 5 school records (Cross Country 8000 m, Indoor 5000 m, Outdoor 5000 m, 3000 m Steeplechase and the 10000 m). He led the field from start to finish to clinch the ACC 3000 m Steeplechase title. At the NCAA Lemoncello posted 12th in the 5000 m 5th in the 10000 m and second in the steeple to underline his credentials. Lemoncello joined the McMillanElite training group based in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
in 2007, under the direction of Coach Greg McMillan.
Lemoncello had to withdraw from the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Australia due to commitments at FSU, Lemoncello had exams and the NCAA Indoor Championships in the days leading up to the games and would not have had sufficient time to acclimatise in order to perform at his best.
Professional
He competed in the steeplechase at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
but did not progress beyond the heats. He returned for the 2007 World Championships
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
but again did not get past the heat stage. He made the world championship team after running 27:57 10,000m at Brutus Hamilton Invitational on the track. Lemoncello ran in the senior race at the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in the Holyrood Park at Edinburgh, Scotland on 30 March 2008. Four races took place, one for men, women, junior men and junior women respectively. All races encompassed both individual and team competition...
but finished in 78th place. He represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, again begin knocked out in the heats of the steeplechase. He took part in the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series.-Organisation:...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and was 26th. He closed the year with a 29th place finish at the 2009 European Cross Country Championships
2009 European Cross Country Championships
The 2009 European Cross Country Championships was a continental cross country running competition that was held on 13 December 2009 in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin was selected as the host city in 2007 and the event was the first time that a major European athletics championships took place in Ireland...
.
Lemoncello made his marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
debut in April 2010 at the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
. He finished in a time of 2:13:40 for eighth place as the first European man to cross the line. In September he took to the streets of Sheffield for the Great Yorkshire Run
Great Yorkshire Run
The Great Yorkshire Run is an annual road-race event run in Sheffield City Centre. It is a part of the Great Run series of events, and as such is linked with the Great North Run...
and finished in fourth place with a time of 29:08 minutes.
Achievements
- Lemoncello qualified for the 2006 Commonwealth Games running for ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- Qualified for the European and World Championships running for Great Britain
- 2nd in the ncaa in the 3000m steeple, 12th in the ncaa in the 5000m and 5th among all 10K runners in the NCAA in 2006
- Lemoncello was selected to run for Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing 9th in round 1.
Personal bests
- 800 m 1:55.2 (2003) Wishaw
- 1500 m 3:45.68 (2009) Sun Angel Track Classic
- Mile 4:03.22 (2007) Celtic Cup, Grangemouth
- 3000 m 8:00.09i (2007) New Balance Invitational, New York
- 3000 mSC 8:22.95 (2008) Meeting Gaz De France Golden League
- 5000 m 13:33.01 (2009) Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational
- 10000 m 27:57.23 (2009) Brutus Hamilton Memorial
- Half-marathon 63:03 (2009) IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
- Half-marathon 61.52 (2009) Austin Half Marathon (downhill course)