Aug. 12, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky track and field program has signed 10 student-athletes for the 2002-03 school year, it was announced Monday by Coach Don Weber. The group consists of eight freshmen and two transfers coming from seven different states and the country Hungary.
“As a coach, you hope the incoming athletes can have an immediate impact in the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA,” Coach Weber said. “However, it usually takes some time and development to become competitive at the SEC and NCAA. When I look at this class, I see 10 athletes that can contribute immediately with their current performances. That is exciting! From top to bottom, this could be the most talented group of incoming athletes at UK.”
Among the four men joining the Wildcats in August is Chris Millisor, the 2002 Ohio State Champion in the 1600-meter run. Millisor boasts a personal best time of 4:16.07 in the event and was the runner-up at the 2001 state championship. The Rushville, Ohio native was a three-time All-State selection in cross country while earning the honor twice in track.
Ryan DeLuca, a native of Stony Brook, N.Y., was a 2002 High School Indoor All-American in the 800-meter run and holds a personal best time of 1:52.83 in the event. He finished second at the New York State Championships in the 1000-meter run before taking third at the High School Indoor National Championships in New York City. He holds the Ward Melville school records for the 600 meters, 800 meters, 1000 meters, 4×400 relay and 4×800 relay.
Kris Landers, a transfer from Monmouth University, was the 2002 Northeastern Conference champion in the indoor 800 meters and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Wall, N.J., native holds the Wall High School record in the 800 meters.
The final recruit for the men is Jean Balan (Ba-LOAN), a Miami, Fla., native transferring from Florida A&M. Balan finished second in the 800 meters at the 2002 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships. He was the 1999 Florida State Champion and the 2000 AAU National Champion in the event as well.
“Jean Balan, Kris Landers and Ryan DeLuca will fit in extremely well with the talented group of middle distance runners at UK,” Weber continued. “They will help us cover events from the 400 through 1500 meters, as well as the relays. They all have excellent credentials on the track. Chris Millisor will contribute in both cross country, where he finished second in the state in high school, and on the track, where he was the Ohio 1600 meters champion.”
On the women’s side, Kentucky looks to get great help in sprints from Takia Brooks, a three-time High School All-American. The Abington, Pa., native has personal bests of 11.71 in the 100 meters, 24.33 in the 200 meters and 54.86 in the 400 meters.
Another sprinter joining the group, Talonda Ingram of Pompano Beach, Fla., finished second at the 2002 Florida State Championships in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. She also was a member of the 2000 4×200 relay team that set a high school national record.
Rachel Kohler, who hails from Georgetown, Ind., holds a personal best of 5-8 in the high jump and tied for fourth at the Indiana State Championships. She qualified for the championship meet all four years in high school and was the 2002 sectional champion.
Kentucky will gain the services of twins Kenya and Kendra Patton of Chattanooga, Tenn., for the 2002-03 season. Kenya was a three-time state champion in the 100-meter dash and 4×100 relay and a two-time state champion in the 200 meters. She was named the 2001 Gatorade Athlete of the Year for her state and holds school records in the 100 meters, 4×100 relay, 4×200 relay and the sprint medley relay. Kendra holds school records in the 200 meters, 4×100 relay and 4×200 relay. She was an All-America scholar athlete.
UK’s final signee hails from Heves, Hungary. Ildiko (EEL-dee-koe) Varga was the 2002 Hungarian Under-23 champion in the discus and was a finalist at the 2000 World Junior Championships in the event. She holds personal bests of 174-00.00 in the discus and 164-09.00 in the hammer throw.
“Takia Brooks, Talonda Ingram, Kenya Patton and Kendra Patton will combine with our current athletes to form the core of an enormously talented sprint program,” Weber said. All four have the ability to contribute in the SEC from the 100 meters through the 400 meters and the relays. It will be very exciting to watch them grow over the next four years.
“Rachel Kohler and Ildiko Varga are excellent additions to an already talented area of the program,” Weber said. “Rachel and Janet Crawford, the third place finisher at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2002, will make a formidable one-two punch in the high jump. Ildiko will join a group of throwers that already includes two NCAA qualifiers.”The season kicks off with seven fall cross country dates. The first event is Friday, August 30 as UK plays host for the Woodford Trials in Versailles, Ky.
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