News

Alumni Q&A: JJ O’Rourke

Catholic University | Cross Country & Track & Field

TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference is excited to introduce a new Alumni Q&A series, highlighting former student-athletes and learning more about where their experiences have taken them after graduation. In our first edition, we catch up with former Catholic University cross country and track student-athlete JJ O'Rourke.

A physics major at Catholic, O'Rourke competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track while also participating in Navy ROTC. After graduation, he attended Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, earned his Wings of Gold, and now serves as a Naval Flight Officer in Washington state.

O'Rourke looks back on his time in the Landmark Conference, including qualifying for the NCAA Championships, his final Landmark Championship race, the teammates who made an impact on him, and the lessons he continues to carry with him today.

Looking back on your collegiate experience, what originally drew you to attend Catholic University and compete in the Landmark Conference?
What initially drew me to Catholic University was the ability to run Cross Country and Track while simultaneously fulfilling my Navy ROTC requirements. The Landmark Conference is full of top-notch competition and afforded me the chance to compete at a high level while managing my other responsibilities.

What lessons from your experience as a student-athlete have had the greatest impact on your life and career after graduation?
Being a student-athlete taught me the importance of who you surround yourself with. At Catholic University, I was privileged enough to find a strong community of hard-working student-athletes committed to doing things the right way. Since graduating, I've always tried to find or build that type of community everywhere I go.

Can you share a memorable moment from your time as a student-athlete that still stands out today?
My most memorable moment was my first time qualifying for NCAAs. All of my teammates were there to celebrate with me when the news dropped, and held a watch party to support Paige Wilderotter and me on the day.

Tell us about your career path since graduation and what you're doing today.
After graduation, I moved to Pensacola, Florida for two years of Navy Flight School. I earned my Wings of Gold last September and moved to Washington State to fly in jets for the Navy.

In what ways did your student-athlete experience help prepare you for success after college?
My student-athlete experience prepared me by providing me with the time management skills required to succeed after graduating.

Who had the greatest influence on you during your college experience and why?
My teammates had a profound influence on me during my time in college. We ate just about every meal together, had team functions often, and studied together as well. I couldn't have asked for a better group of young men and women to have as teammates.

If you could relive one race, which would it be?
If I could relive one race, it would be my last Landmark Championship 5000m. That race was the culmination of the hard work the entire team had done over four years, and the guys showed out. Just moments later, I cheered on my now-wife, Danielle, as she won her first conference medal in the Women's 5000m. It was the best ending to my Landmark Conference career I could have ever asked for.

What advice would you give current Landmark Conference student-athletes?
The Landmark Conference is an awesome place to push yourself athletically and be the best you can be, while also being great in other disciplines. Take advantage of that opportunity and always remember to enjoy it.

Favorite team tradition or memory from your playing days?
The best team tradition we had was night monumenting in DC every preseason. It's such a unique experience that we had at Catholic University and an awesome way to show the new freshmen runners around Washington, DC.

Complete the sentence: "Being a Landmark Conference student-athlete taught me...?
Balance.