May 1, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky track and field team will split its squad on Friday, May 2, when half the team travels across the country to attend Stanford’s Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., while the rest of the group heads to Columbus, Ohio for the Jessie Owens Classic on the campus of Ohio State.

The 14 athletes traveling to Stanford on Friday includes UK’s strong corps of distance runners, including Beth Heimann, Brooke Patterson and Roseline Addo, who have already regionally qualified in the 800 meters. The men’s group includes seven runners who have already qualified in the 800 meters and four in the 1,500 meters.

It’s the eighth annual running of the Cardinal Invitational, which is held under the lights at Cobb Track and Angell Field Stadium on Stanford’s campus.

UK also will send its group of sprinters and field events specialists to Ohio State’s campus on Friday for the 18th running for the Jesse Owens Track Classic at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The number of participants at the meet is expected to exceed 1,000 for the two-day event.