FEATURE: Muir hopes for big things at national championships

By Sandy Gholston

HOUSTON – Competing on the bright lights of the national stage will never get old for Ferris State University sophomore Tina Muir, who is back at work this week at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Participating in the event, a part of the NCAA Division II Winter National Championships Festival, Muir boasts the ninth-best time (16:57.70) in a field of 16 runners destined to compete in the women's 5,000-meter run on Saturday. Muir, coming off an All-American fall season as a member of the national championships-qualifying women’s cross country team, has enjoyed a sense of pride with respect to her winter indoor season and looks forward to the challenge of battling the nation’s top runners.

“I am really happy with how the indoor season has gone. I have taken so much time off my PRs (personal records) the past few months while reaching times I never thought I would achieve,” said Muir, fueled by a strong competitive drive to succeed that is masked by a pleasant and easygoing personality. “And, the best part is I know I am not yet at my limit. There is more to come. It was exciting to not only reach the automatic qualifying time, but to exceed it.”

Bulldog student-athletes are Texas boun

Getting a trip to Texas out of it, and an opportunity to take part in the winter festival, is icing on the cake for Muir (who is at nationals this week with women’s teammate Mikinzie Stuart and men’s Ferris athlete Matt Jozwiak). The NCAA has been pushing the festival atmosphere which allows student-athletes from participating schools to mingle together in and out of actual competition. At the 2008 spring festival, the Ferris softball and women’s golf teams were participants in May. This week, the three Bulldog student-athletes representing track and field have a similar opportunity.

“I am very excited to go to Texas. It is somewhere I have always wanted to go. To combine this with the excitement of competing against the best runners in the country is bound to be an unforgettable experience,” Muir said. “Most of the preparation for nationals has been done in the months previous to (nationals). I feel I am ready to race and compete against the best in the country. So preparations for this week will just involve tapering down and preparing mentally.”

Preparation and experience can ease the nerves

Although the competition is the best of the best, the native of St. Albans in the United Kingdom is not feeling any particularly strong case of butterflies in the pit of her stomach. Having been a key member of the FSU cross country team that qualified for the 2008 Women’s Cross Country National Championships, back in the fall, Muir has a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of the atmosphere and elevation in level of competition.

“I am not really nervous for the race, I feel more excitement than nervousness,” Muir said. “As I have competed in many national championships in the past, it is something I feel I am ready for and can only do my best. However, this is my first track nationals so I am not completely sure what to expect. But, I just plan to enjoy it and make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given.”

For more on Ferris State University’s track and field athletes competing in the national championships, visit:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/track/0809news/indoornationals09.htm

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com