Track Team Performs Well At USA Championships

June 24, 2005

LOS ANGELES — Two University of Kansas track and field athletes, in addition to former Jayhawk and Olympian Charlie Gruber, helped KU to an impressive start at the 2005 USA Track & Field Championships in Carson, Calif., on Thursday. The Championships are scheduled to run June 23-26.

Freshman Julius Jiles ran a 52.83 qualifying time in the first round of the junior 400 meter hurdles on Thursday and will compete in finals action on Friday. Jiles, whose time was the third-fast time in the first round, will be looking to finish in the top two and make the USA Junior National team which will compete in the 2005 Pan American Junior Championships, July 28-31 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Senior Jeremy Mims, running in the fastest heat in the 800 meter run, qualified for finals action with a time of 1:50.18. His time was fifth overall in the prelims. Mims will need to finish among the top three in the finals to make the USA National Team.

In the 1500 meter run, Gruber took second in his heat with the second overall fastest time of 3:39.41.

“All the KU athletes are doing a great job,” head coach Stanley Redwine said. “Our young men who have competed thus far have done exactly what they were supposed to do and are in a great position to give themselves a chance to make the National Team.”

Also competing this weekend are Sheldon Battle (shot put), Paul Hefferon (5000 meter), Brooklyn Hann (triple jump), Crystal Manning (triple jump), Amy Linnen (pole vault) and Lisa Morrisey (1500 meter). Live results of the USA Track & Field Championships can be found at www.usatf.org.