INDIANAPOLIS - Marian University sophomore cyclist Sinead Miller (South Park, Pa./South Park) is currently competing in the Ladies Tour of Qatar, which is a nation on the northeasterly coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar is a neighboring nation of Saudi Arabia and is separated from Bahrain by a strait of the Persian Gulf.

On the final day of the race, Miller was 74th in the overall standings and sat in 39th in the young rider classification after two stages of the three-stage race. In the final stage, she pulled out all the stops both for herself and her teammates.

Miller earned a 21st-place finish in the 94-kilometer stage to bring her into 35th in the final standings of the young rider classification and into 66th in the general overall standings. More importantly, she helped the U.S. National Team to a third-place finish in the stage. She also provided assistance to two of her teammates, who finished in third place and in 13th place in the stage. One of her teammates finished in sixth place in the final overall standings.

"Sinead had a great ride on the final day," said head coach Dean Peterson. "She really played the team game in the final stage, and recovered well from the crash on the first day. We are truly proud of Sinead as a rider and a representative of Marian University."

In the first stage of the three-day race, Miller crashed 45 kilometers into the 105.3 kilometer race. However, she was able to endure and finished the race in 81st overall and was 44th in the young rider classification.

"She had a pretty rough crash on day one," said Marian University head coach Dean Peterson. "We are glad she was able to finish, but are thrilled that she was able to endure a crash with competition at this level and finish the race. We feel great that she is ok."

Miller was the first rider from Marian University to compete in the Ladies Tour of Qatar and will lead the Knights on the road as they open the 2010 campaign at the Murray State University Road Race on February 27. The criterium is set for February 28.