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February 20, 2007
Hamline alum honored
Hamline Alum Heidi Keller Miler, class of ‘87, received the Breaking Barriers Award at the 2007 National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Feb. 7.
NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states with community based events, award ceremonies and other activities honoring achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports, according to Hamline University Athletics Director of Development Dana Johnson.
NGWSD was conceived in 1987 in remembrance of Flo Hyman, an Olympic Volleyball player who died of Marfan’s Sundrome the previous year while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. She was recognized for for her athletic achievements as well as her work for equality for women’s sports.
“The Breaking Barriers Award is given to females that have been leaders in athletics,” said Director of Hamline Athletics Dan O’Brien. “It is for people who have achieved at a high level and brought attention to women in sports.”
“I think it was more of an image of continuing on in sports throughout my life and making it my career,” said Miler. She was nominated by Shawn Johnson-Hipp, her former cross country and track and field coach at Hamline.
Miler participated in cross country, swimming, and track and field at Hamline. She earned 10 letters and was a 20-time conference champion, 10 as an individual, as well as a 16-time All American earned five Honorable Mention All American Awards. She holds the top space on the cross country All Time List as well as the the alumni meet two-mile record.
After college, Miler was a pro triathlete for a few years, and swim coach for both the girls and boys teams at Highland Park/St. Paul Academy for 10 years.
Miler is currently the office manager for the Minnesota Distance Running Association. The MDRA is an organization of 3,000 runners that promotes sports at the grassroots level through training programs , for adults and kids, low cost racing, and providing high quality publications to their members, according to Miler.
“We sponsor two programs specifically tailored to getting beginning women athletes into the sport,” said Miler.”
As far as working with Hamline Athletics, Miler is currently a board member and chair of the Hall of Fame Committee.
“I would like to be more involved, but with three kids and their activities, a job, and training for triathlons, it gets to be a bit much,” said Miler. “I wish I lived closer to Hamline so I could take part in more spectating of events.”
Posted by dwright at February 20, 2007 01:21 PM
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