VANCOUVER, BC -- The Thunderbirds' 2011 recruiting class just got even better this week as middle-distance runner Maria Bernard, of Bishop O'Byrne High School

(Calgary, AB), said she's coming to UBC in the fall.

"I am very pleased that Maria has chosen to further her academic and athletic pursuits at UBC," says UBC head coach Marek Jedrzejek. "She will have an immediate impact on our team."

"Not only does UBC allow me to receive a top notch education but it also gives me access to a great track program, elite coaching and a deep level of competition," says Bernard. "I look forward to waking up to such a beautiful campus and the trails that will become my backyard, which is practically a distance runners dream."

Bernard was recently selected to represent Canada on the Junior Women's team at the 2011 North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships being held February 19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

If her team performs well enough at NACACs, it is likely she will be selected to run for Canada at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, on March 20.

At the Canadian Cross Country Championships last November, Bernard finished tenth in the Junior Women's race, securing a spot on the national team.

That race capped off a successful cross country season, which saw her capture the Alberta Cross Country Championships Youth Girls title, as well as a second place finish in the Senior Girls race at the Alberta Schools Athletic Association Championships.

She looks to be in excellent shape for NACACs, having turned in a dominant performance at the University of Alberta's Golden Bear Open indoor track meet last month.

Against collegiate fields, Bernard placed third in the 1,500-meters, running 4:39.03, and won the 3,000-meters in 9:57.68, both new personal bests for her. She also won the 800-meters in 2:19.86, just seconds off her personal best of 2:16.36.

Her impressive track resume also includes 4th in the 3,000-meters, and 7th in the 1,500-meters at last summer's Legion Canadian Youth Championships in Ottawa.

Clearly, she is one of the country's rising middle-distance runners.

For the upcoming track season, Bernard says she wishes to improve her times and gain more experience in racing and with racing strategy.

"I think that I will mainly focus on the 1500 and up," says Bernard.

"I am looking forward to running 5000s, but the occasional shorter race is fun too."

She plans on studying life sciences, and is interested in the medical field down the road. Bernard trains with the Calgary Warriors Track Club, coached by Terry Crook.

In choosing UBC, she adds her name to the list of 2011 recruits that already includes BC high school standouts Devan Wiebe (Vancouver) and Jack Williams (White Rock).