Former Northwood Track Standout Danielle Miller Qualifies For U.S. Marathon Olympic Trials

Posted: Jan 20, 2015

Courtesy of Travis McCurdy, Northwood Sports Information Director

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Former Northwood University track and field standout Danielle Miller (Clinton Twp, Mich./Fraser) has qualified for the United States Marathon Olympic Trials thanks to a tremendous performance in the Chevron Houston Marathon Sunday (January 18).

Miller ran a time of 2:41.32 to place 47th overall out of 7,133 runners. She was the 13th female finisher and eighth in her division of the 20-24 age group. The time standard to qualify for the Olympic Trials is 2:43.00.

The trials will take place in Los Angeles, California in February of 2016.

"I'm very blessed that I got the opportunity to run for such a phenomenal group, Hanson's Brooks Original Distance Project," said Miller "It's a dream come true. I gave up a lot - anything that was counter intuitive to distance running at a high level. But all those choices were well worth it."

"I am so proud of Dani for this amazing feat," said Jamie Moreno, Head Track and Field Coach at Northwood and Miller's collegiate coach. "A lot of runners and athletes want to be the best, but very few are willing to make the sacrifices and put the work in she has for the past few years."

Miller turned in a storied Northwood career. An All-American in the 5,000 meter run in the 2014 Indoor season, Miller's name is throughout the Northwood record book. In outdoor track, she holds the top spot in the 10,000 (35:15.03), second in the 5,000 (17:17.53) and third in the 1,500 meters (4:36.35). She also holds the indoor record in the 3,000 (9:52.42) while ranking second in the 5,000 (17:07.30), third in the mile (5:05.89) sixth in the 800 meters (2:25.32). Miller is also a part of the top indoor Distance Medley Relay team.

Danielle appreciated the time she spent at Northwood University. "I am blessed to have gone to a school which supported me in my best and worst times as an athlete. I'm very thankful for the athletic staff of Northwood University, its professors, faculty, and staff, who've continued to believe in my dreams even after I've graduated."