“I saw Daniel run in three meets this year and he seems to get stronger as he goes. I tried to find a strategy for our top runner, and the best I could do was: Daniel seemed a little less dominant on hills. When he went by the 1-mile at 4:45 on a muddy, hilly course, it was apparent that he was by far the best I’d seen in years.”

Rich Higgins

Head Coach - Head coach of Walsingham Academy

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-10, 135-pound junior won the Virginia Independent School Division 2 state meet this past season with a time of 15:55.5, breaking the tape 1:28.9 ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Bishops to the state team title. O’Brien finished third at the Foot Locker South Regional championships and he took 12th at Foot Locker nationals to earn All-American status. He did not lose to an in-state runner all season.

Academic Achievement

O’Brien has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

Exemplary Character

The head of the Virginia Episcopal Debate Club, O’Brien has volunteered as his dorm’s residential assistant, and he has donated his time helping build a cross country course on the Virginia Episcopal campus.