July 16, 2004

Former Villanova track & field standout and current Wildcat assistant coach Carmen Douma-Hussar ('98) finished second in the 1,500m run at last week's Canadian Olympic Trials to qualify for the Olympic Games to be held next month in Athens, Greece.

Douma-Hussar becomes the third Villanovan to qualify for this year's Olympics, joining Jen Rhines ('96) who will run the marathon for the United States and Sonia O'Sullivan ('91) who will compete for her native Ireland. With these three securing spots for Athens, there has now been a Villanovan in every summer Olympics since 1948.

In the 1,500m race at last week's trials, Douma-Hussar placed second in a time of 4:05. 22. The race was won by Malindi Elmore who was clocked in 4:04.51. Earlier this year at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Budapest Hungary, Douma-Hussar captured the silver medal in the 1,500m run.

During her Villanova career, Douma-Hussar was a three-time NCAA champion, winning the indoor mile in 1998 and 2000 and the outdoor 1,500m run in 1998. In cross country, she captured the 1999 Big East Conference title and placed 21st nationally on the 1998 Wildcat team that won the NCAA Cross Country title.