RADFORD, Va. - Former Radford track and field standout Goran Nava will march with the 91-member Serbian Olympic team during the Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008 on Friday at National Stadium.

The ceremony begins in Beijing at 8 a.m. EST.

Nava, who hails from Castello Di Brianza, Italy, is representing the native country of his mother. On July 2, Nava qualified for the Serbian squad by posting a time of 3:38:35 in the 1500 meter run in Milan, Italy.

Competition in the 1500 meter event begins Friday, Aug. 15 at National Stadium and concludes Tuesday, Aug. 19.

During his four years at Radford, Nava became one of the school's most decorated track and field athletes. Among his accomplishments on the track, he is Radford's first two-time Academic All-American first teamer.

He finished his career with eight school records (three indoor, five outdoor), and still holds the Big South Indoor Championship record in the 800 meter run (1:52:58).

During his junior and senior seasons, Nava compiled 19 individual event titles in cross country and track and field. Nava was the Big South's indoor 800 meter run champion in 2002 and 2004, and the 2004 indoor mile run champion. In outdoor events, Nava was the 2003 and 2004 champion in both the 800 meter run and 1,500 meter run.

Nava, a three-time Radford University Scholar Athlete of the Year, also earned 2004 Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year honors for both indoor and outdoor track and field.

As an independent country, Serbia is making its return to the Olympic Games after a 96-year layoff. In the 2004 Games, the country competed as Serbia-Montenegro.

Click here to follow Goran on his official Olympic athlete web site: