July 16, 2008

Providence, R.I. - The Olympic Games are the pinacle of sporting excellence, where athletes from all over the world compete for a chance to win a medal. Three former Friar track and field stars, Kim Smith '05 (Aukland, New Zealand), Roisin McGettigan '03 (Wicklow, Ireland) and Martin Fagan '07 (Mullingar, Ireland) each have earned themselves a trip to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games August 8-24.

Kim Smith '05 will be competing for New Zealand in the 10,000 meters. Smith is the only Friar to capture four NCAA titles during her time at Providence. She ended her career at Providence by winning the 2004 NCAA Cross Country individual title. At the 2004 NCAA Indoor Track Championship, Smith captured the 5,000 meters (15:14.18) and the 3,000 meters (8:49.18), setting NCAA records in both events. Smith also won the 5,000 meters at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships. In 2004, she competed in the 5,000 meters at the Athens Olympics. She is set to compete in her second Olympic Games in Beijing, China in the 10,000 meter event. She is currently ranked second in the world in the event and has a good chance at earning herself a medal. The women's 10,000 meter gold medal final will be aired 12:35a.m. ET - 2:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 16 on NBC.

Roisin McGettigan '03 will be competing for her home country, Ireland in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. This is the first year that the event will be contested for the women at the Olympic Games. McGettigan earned four All-America honors at Providence College. McGettigan, a native of Wicklow, Ireland, set two school records including the indoor 800 meters (2:05.91) and the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:50.12). Her time in the steeplechase (9:28.29) is the fastest ever run by an Irish woman. The women's 3,000 meters steeplechase gold medal final will be aired Sunday, August 17 from 7:00p.m. ET - 12:00a.m. ET on NBC.

Martin Fagan `07 was a four-time All-American during his four years at Providence College. He earned the honor in back-to-back seasons for cross country (2005, 2006) and also was recognized as an All-American in outdoor track (10,000 meters) and indoor track (3,000 meters). In his debut marathon, he ran under the Olympic `A' standard time; his time was 2:14.06 at the Dubai Marathon in Dubai, UAE on January 18, 2008. The men's marathon is the final event of the Olympic Games and will be aired LIVE primetime on NBC Saturday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET - 12:00 a.m. ET.

Check back to friars.com for more news and results. For more information on the Olympics go to en.beijing2008.cn or nbcolympics.com.

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