Muir Takes Third In British Olympic Trials

Big Rapids, Mich. - Distance runner Tina Muir (St. Albans, U.K.), who wrapped up her collegiate eligibility as an 11-time All-American for Ferris State University this spring, placed third in the 10,000 meters at the 2012 Aviva British Olympic Trials on Saturday (June 23).

Muir took fifth place overall in the field and third among the British contingent at Birmingham Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, Great Britain, where she joined over 750 of Britain's best athletes going head-to-head for selection to this summer's Olympic Games, which will be held in London starting in late July.

Muir was timed in a personal-best 33:47.03 in the event, which was third among the British Olympic Trials competitors but missed the official time mark needed to qualify for the Olympic games.  In addition to the British runners, the 10,000-meter field was also opened up to competitors from other countries, including Ethiopia and Poland, in an effort to strengthen the field.

"I had the most incredible day meeting and hanging out with Olympians, signing autographs for numerous kids and constant support and cheering from people in the biggest stadium I have ever seen in my life to finish with a bronze medal," said Muir.

She finished less than a minute off the top British time posted by Caryl Jones, who took second in the field at 32:52.53.  The winner of the race was Worknesh Kidane of Ethiopia.  She clocked 31:28.19 as a non-British runner.

Muir concluded a stellar career as one of FSU's most decorated student-athletes ever by taking second place in the 5,000 meters on the final day of competition at the 2012 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships on May 26 in Pueblo, Colo. Her runner-up effort enabled her to claim All-America laurels for the 11th time in her collegiate career and the second time in the meet following a fourth-place national finish in the 10,000 meters.

That performance came on the heels of a third-place showing in the 5,000 meters at this year's NCAA-II Indoor Track and Field Championships where she also earned All-America honors as member of the school's distance medley relay team that placed fourth overall.

Last fall, Muir led the Bulldogs in her last collegiate cross country race by finishing a personal-best seventh overall and sixth in scoring position at the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships to earn All-America accolades for the fourth-straight season. She is the only four-time All-American in FSU women's cross country history and her performance represented the highest individual finish ever for the Bulldogs, who tied for the best team finish in school history (eighth).

The 2011 GLIAC Cross Country "Athlete of the Year" won the league's individual cross country crown for the second time and twice claimed GLIAC "Runner of the Week" laurels last fall. Her efforts helped FSU to a number three national ranking and league runner-up finish.

Besides her athletic accomplishments, Muir also was chosen to the 2011-12 Capital One Division II Academic All-America First Team for cross country and track.  She claimed All-GLIAC and GLIAC All-Academic Team honors four-straight years and was a three-time recipient of the prestigious GLIAC Commissioner's Award for Excellence.

Ferris State's women's cross country/track and field program capped off one of its most memorable seasons in history by being tabbed fifth nationally in the 2011-12 United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year standings, which are based on all-around performance in all three sports.