May 25, 1998

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-The University of Kentucky track and field team had four athletesprovisionally qualify for the NCAA championships on Sunday. Roshell Russell,Shonnishia Johnson, Lutisha Shittu and Jeffrey Ellis turned in performances in theSoutheastern Conference championships that will extend their seasons.

Kentucky’s men’s and women’s teams both finished in ninth place in overallcompetition. The Arkansas men and Florida women both repeated as SEC champs. JuniorRoshell Russell finished second to South Carolina’s Tonique Williams in the women’s400 meter run. Her time of 52.48 earned her a berth in the NCAA championships.

Two Wildcats placed in the top five in the women’s 100 meter high hurdles.

Junior Shonnishia Johnson and freshman Lutisha Shittu finished third and fifth,respectively. Johnson completed the race with a time of 13.16, while Shittu placedfifth with a time of 13.62.

From the men’s team, freshman Jeffrey Ellis earned athird place finish in the men’s 400 meter intermediate hurdles with a time of 50.39.

Other solid performances came from Jeffrey Limpert and Jason Margraf. Limpertplaced eighth in the men’s 800 meter run with a time of 1:50.41. Margraf competed inthe men’s discus throw. The Wildcat senior’s mark of 176 feet was good enough toearn a fifth place finish.

The NCAA track and field championships will beheld June 3-6 in Buffalo, N.Y. at State University of New York at Buffalo.