Sam Bird

Class: Senior Hometown: Columbia City, Ind. High School: Northrop HS

Height: 6-0 Event: Distance

2008 CROSS COUNTRY: Posted a personal-best 8K time of 26:03.7 at the ISU Pre-Nationals to place 65th in the Men's Open Race ... Finished 78th at the Big 12 Championships in an 8K time of 26:53.5 ... Placed 121st at the OSU Cowboy Jamboree after running a 27:08 8K ... Competed unattached at the Bob Timmons Classic and Missouri Cross Country Challenge, finishing in 28th place (27:26.1) and 13th place (27:42.06), respectively.

HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered all four years in both track and cross country ... Conference and section champion in cross country as a senior in 2007 ... Qualified for state in 2006 and 2007 ... Made the all-region team in 2006 and 2007 ... Earned all-semistate honors in 2006 and 2007 ... Named MVP of his cross country team in both 2006 and 2007 ... All-conference 2005-2007 ... All-section team member 2006 and 2007 ... Member of state-qualifying team in 2005 ... Named team's most valuable rookie as a freshman in 2004 ... Was a two-time state qualifier in track.

PERSONAL: Son of Gary and JoAnn Bird ... Born in Columbia City, Ind. ... Majoring in atmospheric science.