March 11, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eleven University of Kentucky track and field athletes have earned spots in the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend, March 14-15, in Fayetteville, Ark. Among the group are eight men and three women, including David Freeman, Paul Ciurlys and Chad Johnson, who will compete in two events apiece.

Ernest Simms, a redshirt junior will compete in the men’s 60 meters, while Ciurlys, James Doaty and Johnson will run the 800 meters. Freeman and Hunter Spencer will compete in the mile, while freshman Kris Landers joins Ciurlys, Johnson and Freeman in the distance medley relay.

Jeff Chakouian, a junior, makes his third consecutive appearance at the indoor championship in the men’s shot put. Last season, Chakouian took seventh place in the event to earn All-America honors. He finished third in the event as a freshman for his first All-America award.On the women’s side, junior Beth Heimann will compete in the 800 meters, while senior Simidele Adeagbo will look for her third All-America award in the triple jump after earning the status at the outdoor meet in 2002 and the indoor run in 2001.

Wrapping up the list is senior Janet Crawford in the high jump. Crawford has taken the last three Southeastern Conference titles in the event, including at the 2003 indoor championships two weeks ago. The Hillsboro, Ky., native earned her first All-America honor at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships with a third-place finish in the event.

Competition begins on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas. A complete list of UK’s competition times is listed below.

Friday, March 14

1:30 p.m. – Women’s High Jump (Prelims and Finals) Janet Crawford

4:00 p.m. – Women’s 800 Meters (Prelims) Beth Heimann

4:15 p.m. – Men’s 800 Meters (Prelims) Paul Ciurlys, James Doaty, Chad Johnson

6:00 p.m. – Men’s 60 Meters (Prelims) Ernest Simms

9:00 p.m. – Men’s Distance Medley Relay (Finals) Kris Landers, Ciurlys, David Freeman, Johnson

Saturday, March 14

4:10 p.m. – Women’s Triple Jump (Finals) Simidele Adeagbo

4:30 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put (Finals) Jeff Chakouian

6:15 p.m. – Men’s Mile (Finals) Hunter Spencer, Freeman
6:25 p.m. – Women’s 800 Meters (Finals) TBA
6:35 p.m. – Men’s 800 Meters (Finals) TBA
7:15 p.m. – Men’s 60 Meters (Finals) TBA