July 11, 2003
The University of Kentucky track and field program has signed seven student-athletes for 2003-04, Coach Don Weber announced today. The group, which consists of six freshmen and one transfer, will join Georganne Way and Andy Fryman, who signed with the Cats last fall during the early signing period.
“The addition of this group of men and women to the Kentucky program instantly makes us better for the next four years,” Coach Weber said. “We are extremely excited about the potential they bring and look forward to having them in our program.”
Among the two signees from Central Kentucky is Jonathan Thomas, who attended Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Ky. Thomas was the 2003 Kentucky Class AA State Champion in the 1,600 meters, reigns as the 2003 Regional Champion in the 4×800 meter relay, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and placed third in 2002 at the Kentucky Class AA Cross Country State Championships.
The Cats’ other signee from the Bluegrass is Frankfort native and Frankfort High School product Jackie Gordon. Gordon, who has been the reigning Kentucky Class A 400-meter State Champion the last four years, also holds the Class A state record with a time of 57.10 and holds a personal best of 56.59 in the event. Gordon also added a runner-up finish in the Class A 800 meters in 2003 and came in second in 2002 and 2003 in the Kentucky Class A Cross Country State Championships.
Joining Gordon on the women’s side is Emily King, who hails from Dublin, Ohio. The Coffman High School standout was the runner-up at the 2002 Ohio Division I Cross Country Championships, as well as taking a fourth place finish in 2002. Also at the state meet in 2002, King took second in the 3,200-meter run, and she came in third in the 1,600 and 3,200 in 2001.
On the men’s side, King is joined by high school teammate Tommy Byers. Byers, who also hails from Dublin, Ohio, specializes in the 800-meter run. Byers was the 2003 District and Regional Champion in the 800 meters and the UK High School Invitational Champion in the 800 as a senior. His personal best comes in at a time of 1:53.20.
The lone transfer to UK comes from Baylor University. Nick Devenport, a Waco, Texas native, qualified for the NCAA Championships during the 2003 season in the 1,500 meters with his personal best time of 3:47.01 in the Sun Angel Classic. Devenport was an integral part of the track team at Baylor, anchoring the 4×800 meter relay to victory in the 2003 Drake Relays, placing fourth at the 2003 Big 12 Championships in the 1,000 meters and placing 17th at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships.
The final two additions to the program were both state champions in 2003. Gabriel McLaren, from Freeport High School in Freeport, N.Y., was the 2003 New York State Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, also posting a runner-up finish at the 2003 Indoor Nike Championships. His personal best time of 1:52.12 also ranked second in the nation in the 800 meters during his senior season.
UK’s final signee, John Richardson, a Tuckahoe, N.J. native from Ocean City High School, was the 2003 New Jersey State Champion in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs. Richardson is the state meet record holder in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:09.20 and was the 2003 Penn Relays Mile Champion. He also placed second at the Adidas Outdoor Championship in the 800 meters and was ranked eighth in the U.S. by Track and Field News in the same event.
“Looking at the talent they have, these recruits will make an impact as freshman and continue to improve during their years as Wildcats,” Weber said. “Combined with the athletes we signed during the November signing period, UK will have one of the best recruiting classes in the nation for 2003.”
