LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky track and field team has signed nine athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2007-08 season, head coach Don Weber announced Tuesday.

?We?re very pleased with the athletes that signed with us in the early signing period,? Weber said. ?We expanded our program somewhat in terms of jumps and sprints. We still have some openings to fill and we are looking forward to filling those gaps in the spring signing period.?

Brendan Ames is a jumper and sprinter from Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyo. He owns the Wyoming state records in the 100 hurdles (13.93) and the long jump (23?9?). He was a four-event Wyoming outdoor state champion in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 110 hurdles and long jump. He also was the 2006 indoor champion in the 55, 200 and long jump.

David Banks is a jumper and sprinter from Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Texas. He is the third-ranked returning senior triple jumper in the United States with a mark of 48?10? and is the USA Junior Olympics runner-up in the triple jump. He is the Texas Class 4A State triple jump champion in 2006. He has posted a personal-best 200 meter time of 21.54.

Ke?Undra Bishop is a jumper and sprinter from Klein Forest High School in Houston. She is one of the top ranked sprint/jump combos in the state of Texas. She finished third in Class 5A in the 2006 state championships in the triple jump (39.0) and is a sixth place finisher in the 200 meter with a mark of 24.26.

Colin Boevers is a thrower from Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. One of the best shot put/discus combinations in the country, Boevers is the sixth-ranked discus thrower (181?9) and eighth-ranked returning shot putter (61?7) in the nation.

Grand Lindsey is a jumper from Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas. He is the No. 2-ranked returning senior high-jumper in the United States with a mark of 7?2.? In 2006, he was the No. 1-ranked jumper in the state of Texas.

Danielle Sampley is a sprinter from William Blount High School in Maryville, Tenn. She was the runner-up at the 2006 THSAA meet in the 100 and 200 meters. She was third in the 100 hurdles at the state meet and fourth in the 100 hurdles and the 200 meter at the 2006 AAU Junior Olympics. She also finished fifth in the state in the high jump.

Rashaud Scott is a junior college transfer from Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz. At MCC, he was the NJCAA Champion in both the weight throw (63’4″) and the shot put (58?1) during the indoor season. He won both events by more than a meter. He also was a dominant discus thrower (198?3) in his freshman year with the best marks in any collegiate division.

Jenny Svoboda is a thrower from Howells High School in Howells, Neb. Svoboda is a multiple Junior Olympic National Champion and a member of the world youth team. She is the Nebraska All-Class State Champion in the shot put. She owns a personal-best mark of (145?5) in the discus.

Bianca Tyson is a sprinter from Westlake High School in Atlanta. She was the runner-up at the 2006 GHSAA meet in the 100 (11.96) and 200 (24.44) meters. Her 4×400 relay team also finished as state runners up.

Additionally, joining the squad is Victoria Dunlap, who will be a two-sport athlete at UK from Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn. In addition to track, she also will compete for Coach Mickie DeMoss? women?s basketball team. She is the 2006 Tennessee Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year. She is the 2006 THSAA State Champion in both the pentathlon and the high jump. She also was runner up in the long jump and triple jump events. She is the No. 1 ranked returning senior in the heptathlon with a 4832 and also has posted a personal-best mark of 5-9 in the high jump.

Kentucky begins its 2007 track and field slate when it plays host to the annual Kentucky Invitational Jan. 12-13 in the Nutter Field House.