June 3, 2003

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky track and field team learned late Monday that 13 athletes will advance to the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, Calif., June 11-14. Among the group are six runners competing in the men’s and women’s 800-meter events and sisters Simidele and Olubusola Adeagbo.

This marks the first national appearance for Olubusola Adeagbo, who earned her spot in the 400-meter hurdles after finishing fourth at last week’s NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbus, Ohio with a time of 59.72. Her sister Simidele, already a three-time All-American, qualified in the triple jump after taking fifth last weekend. Earlier this year, the senior set the school record with a jump of 44-04.50 at the Texas Relays.

Kentucky qualified three runners each in the men’s and women’s 800 meters. Jean Balan, Chad Johnson and Paul Ciurlys each qualified for the men. Balan took fifth at the regional meet, while Johnson and Ciurlys each earned a wildcard spot in the event. For the women, Beth Heimann entered the field after taking seventh at the regionals with a time of 2:06.81. Her teammates Brooke Patterson and Roseline Addo each had terrific seasons in the event and will join the field in Sacramento.

David Freeman and Hunter Spencer, both All-Americans, will compete in the men’s 1,500 meters. Spencer was sixth in the regional field last month with a time of 3:50.35. Rounding out the male competitors is senior Thomas Morgan, who will compete for the 5,000-meter title after finishing fifth in Columbus with a time of 14:13.02.

The Wildcats will place two women in the discus event as Ildiko Varga and Molly Lonergan each earned spots after strong performances at regionals. Lonergan took fourth overall with a throw of 162-10.00, while Varga was close behind in sixth with her toss of 158-11.00.

The group will travel to Sacramento on Tuesday, June 10. It marks UK’s largest contingent advancing to the national outdoor meet in more than four seasons.