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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Cal Poly graduate Gina Miles of Creston won the silver medal in the eventing final of equestrian at the Olympics on Tuesday night, finishing just behind Hinrich Romeike of Germany.

Kristina Cook of Great Britain earned the bronze.

Miles is believed to be the second Cal Poly graduate to earn a medal in any Olympic Games. Karen Kraft (Architecture '91) earned a silver medal for pairs rowing at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and a bronze at the 2000 competition in Sydney.

Miles, riding McKinlaigh, had a clear round that brought her up from fourth to second place on 56.10 penalties. Romeike had 54.20 penalties.

"I am so happy he has his day today," said Miles of her huge chestnut gelding. "There were bumps along the road to get this result. It has been a great journey."

Germany edged Australia for the gold medal in team eventing Tuesday night. Great Britain earned the bronze medal.

The American team of Amy Tryon, Karen O'Connor, Rebecca Holder, Phillip Dutton and Miles was seventh.

Eventing is the equestrian triathlon and includes school figures of dressage followed by a cross-country jumping and endurance phase and Tuesday's stadium jumping phase.

Dressage was held over three sessions early in the morning and late at night Saturday and Sunday to minimize the heat and humidity for the horses.

Miles and her horse McKinlaigh finished 10th in the individual dressage (39.30).
The cross-country phase, the heart of the competition, was held Monday.

Germany took over the lead after the cross-country portion passing Australia. The U.S. team was in seventh place with 234 penalty points.

In the individual portion, Miles was in fifth place after the cross-country competition. Dutton, a double gold medalist during his tenure with Australia, was in 14th place with his horse, Connaught.

The stadium jumping portion was contested Tuesday, with the best three scores on each team counting for team medals.

The Olympic equestrian events were held in Hong Kong instead of Beijing because of quarantine restrictions in mainland China.

Miles, 34, and McKinlaigh were named to the U.S. Equestrian Team on July 14. A 1997 Cal Poly graduate with a degree in crop science, Miles and McKinlaigh trained in England prior to the Olympics.

Miles was ready to compete in Athens four years ago and but she was kept off the team when McKinlaigh came down with a breathing problem that required surgery.

Last year, Miles and McKinlaigh were part of a gold-medal-winning U. S. eventing team at the Pan American Games in Brazil, where they also won the individual bronze.

Sports Network contributed to this story.