Jan. 13, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 2003 Kentucky men’s track staff is hopeful that experience from the returning athletes will carry the men’s squad to success this season. Kentucky loses only one scorer from its 2002 team, field events specialist Bill Powers and the list of returning stars is long and filled with SEC and NCAA success stories. Among them are junior Jeff Chakouian, who is a three-time SEC shot put champion, and Hunter Spencer, who finished third in the mile at the NCAA Championships last year. All-Americans Thomas Morgan and the 800-meter trio of David Freeman, James Doaty and Chad Johnson are also experienced athletes hoping to make a difference this year.
Spencer and Morgan, who redshirted the 2002 outdoor season and this fall’s cross country slate, return in 2003 eager to make a difference. Football talent Ernest Simms, who finished fifth in the 60 meters at the SEC Championships last winter, returns to the track following the completion of his gridiron career in November. Simms will be able to compete in outdoor action this year as well.
With this talented group of individuals guiding a solid group of young newcomers, UK plans to move up the ladder in the tough SEC and improve on its 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last season.
Chakouian anchors a solid group of field-events performers. He took both the indoor and outdoor league titles in 2002 and looks to continue that streak this season. Chakouian has virtually rewritten the UK record books, setting both the indoor and outdoor shot put records.
“Jeff Chakouian is top of the class in the SEC shot put ranks,” Coach Don Weber said. “Having won three of the four SEC Championships he has competed in is an awesome accomplishment. We look for Jeff to continue his success at both the SEC Championships and the NCAA Championships.”
The middle distance and distance programs continue to be strong points at Kentucky.”We have an extremely motivated and talented group of individuals in the middle distance and distance areas,” Weber said. “They have proven themselves at the conference and national levels in the past year and are really looking forward to continuing their success this season.”
Top returnee Hunter Spencer will lead the corps. He finished third at the NCAA meet last indoor season in the mile.
“Hunter had a special season in 2002,” Weber continued. “Finishing third in the mile at the NCAA meet is an outstanding accomplishment. I truly believe he has the ability to make a run at the school record for the mile and be a national champion.”
All-Americans David Freeman, James Doaty, Chad Johnson and Thomas Morgan also gained great success in 2002 and will be looked to for leadership this season.
“These men have all had a great deal of success at the league level,” Weber said. “They will be great leaders for our team this year as we look for them to continue their success and really contribute at the NCAA level as well. We are counting on them to have another great year.”
Other talented athletes in the distance program include Paul Ciurlys, Jack Morgan, Justin Amason and Patton Segraves. All four athletes will be needed to contribute to the cause in 2003 after having solid performances in 2002.
“We need the very best from these athletes in 2003,” Weber said. “We have a chance to do very well as a team, but we can not do it without them.”
Simms leads the UK sprint squad after coming out for the track team for the first time in 2002. He showed quickly that his two-year absence from the track did not hinder him as he finished fifth at the SEC Championships during indoor season.
“Ernest sent shockwaves through the league with his fifth-place finish last year,” Weber commented. “That is an incredible accomplishment considering the talent level of the sprinters in the SEC. We are thrilled that Ernest came out last year and even more so that we will have him for this entire year.”
Ben Brewster and newcomer Thomas Masthay look to bolster the sprinting group. Brewster developed well as a freshman in 2002 and Masthay joins the program as the Kentucky State Champion in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
Rounding out the stable of talent for the men’s program in 2003 is a talented group of newcomers with the ability to contribute as first-year performers. Transfers Jean Balan and Kris Landers, along with freshmen Chris Millisor and Ryan DeLuca join the UK squad this year.
“All four of these athletes are very talented,” Weber said. “They have the ability to demonstrate great success in their first years as UK athletes. It will be exciting to watch their development this year.”
The future looks bright for the Wildcat men’s program in 2003. The Cats have some of the nation’s top performers in their respective events and will look to mix talented newcomers in for the perfect blend this year. After that, the possibilities are endless.
