July 23, 2008

Haley Nemra has yet to compete for the University of San Francisco, but is already making a splash on the international stage. The Marysville, Washington native will compete for the Marshall Islands in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

It is the first Olympic contingent ever fielded by the Marshall Islands. The 18-year old Nemra will compete in the 800 meters. Nemra's father is from the Marshall Islands and Haley owns dual citizenship which qualifies her for the Olympics.

A highly decorated track athlete, Nemra was fifth in the 2008 Washington 4A State Track Championships in the 800m and sixth in the 1600m. She has personal bests of 2:13.83 (800m), 5:00.62 (1600m) and 11:06 (3200). For her efforts, Nemra earned All-WESCO First Team honors in the 3200 following her senior campaign.

Nemra is the first current or former USF student-athlete to compete in the Olympic Games since former Diamond Don David Sheldon competed on the Italian Baseball Team in the Atlanta Games. The incoming freshman is the school's second Olympian to compete in track and field and first since USF Legend of the Hilltop Ollie Matson won silver in the 4x400 relay and a bronze in the 440 in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.

Features on Nemra:

http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20080719/NEWS01/231410317/1073/SPORTS01#Marysville.teen.to.race.as.Olympian.for.the.Marshall.Islands