July 7, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Jen Rhines, a 1996 Villanova graduate, earned her third Olympic berth on July 4 as she finished second in the 5,000m final and will run in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Running for adidas, Rhines crossed the finish line in 15:02.02. This is her third Olympics in her third event. Rhines ran the 10,000m in the 2000 Olympics and qualified as a marathoner in the 2004 Games. This keeps the long-standing streak of having at least one Villanova track and field compete in every Summer Olympics since 1948.

During her career as a Wildcat, Rhines won five individual NCAA titles, including three consecutive 5,000 meter outdoor titles (1994-96), the 1995 indoor 5,000 meters and the 1994 cross country title. Rhines was also a member of the Villanova 1995 DMR National Championship squad.

Rhines has been inducted into the Villanova Wall of Fame for her outstanding career. In 1994 she won the Honda-Broderick Cup, an award presented annually to the nation's top women's student-athlete, and won the Honda-Broderick Award in 1994 for her efforts on the cross country squad.