July 6, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. - Former Tar Heel Erin Donohue wrapped up the 10th and final day of the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. by joining Alice Schmidt, Blake Russell and Shalane Flanagan on the US Olympic team as she finished second in the 1500 meter final to earn a berth to the 29th Olympiad. Donohue clocked a time of 4:08.20 edging out Christin Wurth for second place to earn her first trip to the Olympics. The opening ceremony of the Olympics are set for August 8 in Beijing, China and are scheduled to run until August 24.

The eventual winner Shannon Rowbury pulled away from the pack with a lap to go and forced Donohue and Wurth to try and track her down over the final 400 meters. Donohue was behind Wurth with just 100 meters to go but she was able pass Wurth and claim second place in the race as the trio of Rowbury, Donohue and Wurth will represent the US in Beijing in the 1500 meter run.

"It's just exciting, and a big relief at the same time. I've spent my whole career, the past year, to get here and finally make it. I didn't have the smoothest road getting here. It took awhile to get here at the national level. I always knew I was good. It feels good to prove it to everyone else. That's what competition is all about. I know I'm good, I know I'm ready based on practice. I knew I was doing everything right. This meet gives me the opportunity to go out and prove it. I was very comfortable with my plan."

Donohue joins fellow Tar Heels Blake Russell (marathon), Alice Schmidt (800) and Shalane Flanagan (5000, 10000) in earning an Olympic berth. Donohue, Schmidt and Russell will all be first time Olympians in Beijing as Flanagan represented her country in the 5000 at the 2004 games in Athens.