July 12, 1999

Three-time Kentucky high school track & field champion Simidele Adeagbohas signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Kentuckythis fall, UK track coach Don Weber announced Monday.

Adeagbo, a 1999 graduate of Louisville Eastern High School, claimed the1999 long jump title and previously won the 1998 100-meter and long-jumpcrowns. With her winning mark of 19′ 8-1/4″, Simidele is ranked as thenation’s 12th-best prep long jumper, according to the July issue of Track &Field News.

After winning the state long jump title this spring, Simidele injured herhamstring during the 200-meter trials and was unable to compete in thefinals of three other events for which she had qualified. She was favoredin the three remaining events after posting the state’s best seasonal marksin the 100 (12.17), 200 (24.8) and the triple jump (39′ 0-1/4″).

Simidele will join her older sister, Temitayo, as a member of the UK trackteam. Temitayo, the 1998 Kentucky state high school 100 hurdles champion,will be a sophomore at UK and competes in the 400 hurdles and heptathlonfor the Cats.

“Simidele is a very gifted, multi-talented athlete,” Weber said. “She hasthe natural speed to be an outstanding sprinter combined with the explosivepower of a national-caliber jumper. She is also a fierce competitor.Simidele’s ability to compete in the sprints, relays and long and triplejumps will make her a valuable and productive member of our team. We areecstatic to have Simidele join our team.”