As the article below chronicles, Marina Muncan returns to her adoptive home in the United States generally satisfied with her Olympic experience. Even though she did not advance out of the 1500 meter heats, Muncan gained invaluable experience and many great memories from her Olympic experience. She will start her coaching career next month at Division III Stockton College in Galloway, New Jersey. Villanova fans will remember that Stockton's athletic programs were headed for many years by the great Villanova Olympic gold medalist Larry James.
Villanova graduate Muncan fails to qualify for semifinals in Olympics 1,500
By Elliott Denman
For The Inquirer
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
LONDON - Marina Muncan, the Villanova graduate who will join the staff at New Jersey's Richard Stockton College in September, is bound to be a successful college track coach.
After all, she already has worlds of big-time experience running the international track and field circuit for her home nation of Serbia.
"Everything I've done and seen the last few years, I know that's bound to help me," Muncan said Monday morning at Olympic Stadium.
She ran her first-round race of the women's 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 11.25 seconds. That ranked 21st in the 45-runner field, but fell 3.42 seconds shy of qualifying for the Wednesday night semifinals.
"I definitely gave it my best shot," said Muncan, "but I was running against the greatest women in the world. They're all such fabulous athletes. I was hoping to place higher and make it into the semis.
"There was a lot of change of pace and surging, that really hurt me. I should have been prepared for that," said Muncan, whose best time coming in was 4:06.48.
"But at the end of the day, here I am running in the Olympics for the first time, and I'm very happy to be here."
Former Villanova teammate Sheila Reid, twice an NCAA cross-country champion as well as NCAA outdoor titlist at 1,500 and 5,000 meters, will run the 5,000 for Canada starting with the Tuesday morning qualifying rounds.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/olympics/165220536.html#ixzz22t6FRhlQ
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