Garcia Named to USA Team for IAAF World Championship in Daegu

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former UVa track & field student-athlete Stephanie Garcia has been named to the USA team and will participate in the 2011 IAAF World Championship in Daegu, Korea. Garcia replaces Delilah DiCrescenzo who pulled out due to injury. DiCrescenzo is the former Columbia runner that was immortalized in the Plain White T’s song, “Hey There Delilah.” Garcia and the rest of Team USA will participate in the IAAF World Championship August 27-September 4.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me and serves as my first big experience as a post-collegiate runner,” said Garcia. “I am looking forward to representing the USA at such a high level and aim to be a symbol of all the amazing training I had at Virginia.”

Garcia was added to the team after finishing fourth at the USATF Championship in June. She finished the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:55.50. Most recently Garcia raced to a career-best 9:41.12 to place No. 2 in the 3000-meter steeplechase at Ghent, Belgium on July 30. Garcia’s time placed her under the Olympic A standard.

Being named to the team is a serendipitous turn of events for Garcia who had her grip on third place at the USATF Championship in June. The top three finishers in the 3000-meter steeplechase would punch tickets to Daegu. Garcia fell on her way through the final water pit only 200 meters from the finish, dropping her to fourth place and for the time being out of the World Championships until DiCrescenzo pulled out.

“It is a complete honor to be part of this team,” added Garcia. “This has been a crazy-great year for me. I have made leaps and improvements this year. To be able to compete at the World Championships is icing on the cake.”