Biola University Athletics

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Nearly 11 months after being hit by a car while riding his bike home from practice, Biola junior Ryan Richert returned to competition on Sunday and qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the marathon at the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach.

Richert's accomplishments over the last year have been impressive, especially after the accident that nearly cost him his life. Richert was hit by a car while riding his bike home on Feb. 28, 2008, and had to be airlifted to a LA County Hospital-USC Medical Center. Doctors were able to stabilize him, but he suffered a fractured pelvis--among other injuries--and had a metal plate and six screws inserted to try to repair it. After the surgery, it was unclear as to whether he would be able to walk again, let alone return to racing.

Despite all of his injuries, Richert spent a tremendous amount of energy on rehab and on Sunday took part in his first road race since the accident. The junior not only finished the half-marathon in 1:13.27, but finished 12 overall out of 10,716 runners in the race. Richert's time was one-half minute under the NAIA Automatic qualifying time of 1:14.00.

Richert is no stranger to the NAIA Championships, having qualified for the 5,000m run at the 2008 Indoor Championships last year before the accident. He also placed second overall in the Marathon in 2007 while running at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois.

Richert, who hails from Wheaton, Illinois, will return to the NAIA Indoor Championships in May, running close to home at Southern Illinois University May 21-23.