High schooler Haley Nemra from Marysville-Pilchuck in Olympics at 800m...

In a post on nbcolympics.com, Travis Pittman of Seattle affiliate KING TV writes that Haley Nemra, who just graduated from Marysville-Pilchuck High School, will be competing in the Olympics as a member of the Marshall Islands' track and field team.

"The Marysville-Pilchuck high school graduate will be one of five athletes competing for the Marshall Islands. She'll run the 800m.

Haley's father is from the Marshall Islands and Haley just recently obtained citizenship so that she could participate at the Olympics."

In doing some research, Haley ran in this year's state 4A meet, where she finished fifth in the 800, running 2:17.30, after running a PR of 2;13.83 in the prelims.

At this year's state meet, she also finished sixth in the 1600, running 5:00.62, and a leg on Marysville-Pilchuck's 4 x 400 team that finished third at state.

As a junior, she competed on M-P's 4 x 400 meter relay that finished third; sixth in the prelims of the 800 as a sophomore in 2:17.85; and, finished sixth in the finals of the 800 as a freshman, running 2:20.12, against future NCAA champions Rebekah Noble and Brie Felnagle.

In cross country, she finished 20th in the 2007 4A meet. Nemra finished 27th in the Nike Border Clash last November in Beaverton.

Nemra will attend the University of San Francisco this fall, according to a release from the school's athletic department.

The IAAF "A" and "B" standards for the Olympics in the 800 are 2:00.00, and 2:01.30, respectively. However, the IAAF does make provisions for NOCs (national Olympic committees), where countries without qualified athletes may enter a maximum of 1 male and 1 female in accordance with the specifications of the qualification system.

The first round of the women's 800 is Friday August 15th at 11:10 am, Beijing time (8:10 pm Thursday August 14th in Seattle).