Player Bio: Erica Ziel - NAVY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Erica Ziel

	Class: Junior
	Hometown: Saginaw, Mich.
	High School: Swan Valley

	Height: 5-5
	Event: Distance
	Experience: 1-I / 1-O

Coach Criste on Ziel:
"Erica had a breakout sophomore season. She is a terrific talent and we will count on her to be the leader of our distance crew in 2008-09."

2007-08: Enjoyed a banner year, sweeping the 5K titles at the indoor and outdoor league championships ... ran a career-best time of 17:31.80 in her indoor victory ... it was Navy's second-fastest performance in the event during the indoor slate ... placed 15th in the 5K at the ECAC meet ... delivered a career-best outdoor clocking in the event in the Star Meet against Army (17:23.80) ... posted Navy's best showing in the event during the spring ... recorded a total of eight top-four performances during the year, including three victories in the 5K ... ran in seven meets with cross country team... finished among Navy's scoring five in every race ... totaled five top-20 performances ... earned league academic honor roll kudos for fall season.

2006-07: Primarily ran in the outdoor 5,000-meter run during her freshman year ... placed third or better in three of her four races at that distance ... won the event at the Penn Invitational (18:21.09) ... recorded season-best time in her first-collegiate outdoor race, the Navy Invitational (18:16.31) ... also competed in the event at the Patriot League Championship, placing 15th overall ... ran in four cross country races during the fall.

High School / Personal: A 2006 graduate of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw, Mich. ... earned four letters in track and cross country ... named all-state in track as a senior ... broke the school record in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:17.16 ... also selected team captain and team MVP of the track team during her senior campaign ... four-time member of the all-conference team in cross country ... served as cross country team captain from 2004-05 ... helped cross country team to four-consecutive Tri-Valley Conference titles and two Saginaw County championships ... full name is Erica Alma Ziel ... daughter of Jeffrey and Barbara Ziel ... born June 5, 1988, in Saginaw, Mich. ... majoring in oceanography ... named to the Superintendent's and Commandant's Lists follow every semester at the Academy.

Ziel's Career Honors:
• 2008 First-Team All-Patriot League (Indoor: 5,000m)
• 2008 First-Team All-Patriot League (Outdoor: 5,000m)
• 2008 Patriot League Women's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year
• 2008 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll
• Patriot League Rookie of the Week (April 10, 2007)

Ziel's Career-Best Marks
Event 		Mark  		Meet 			 Date
3,000m (I)	10:37.79	at UMES Invitational	 Jan. 4, 2008
5,000m (I)	17:31.80	at Patriot League Champ. Feb. 23, 2008
Mile (I) 	5:31.23		Navy Lidlifter		 Dec. 5, 2006
5,000m (O) 	17:23.80	at Army (Star Meet)	 Apr.11, 2008