Jiles Falls Short at U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

July 5, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. – KU standout Julius Jiles ran the 110-meter hurdles in 13.98 seconds Saturday in the men’s preliminaries, falling short of advancing to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

The 2008 senior from Kansas City, Mo., finished seventh in the first heat, missing out on a spot in the quarterfinals by .16 seconds.

Jiles had a successful finish to a great career this season, earning all-region honors in the 110-meter hurdles. He was named men’s track Jayhawk of the Year after breaking his own school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.57 and tying the KU record in the 60-meter hurdles (7.84). As a junior in 2007, Jiles was an All-American in the 110-meter hurdles.

Also missing out on a trip to Beijing was KU volunteer assistant coach Rose Richmond. Richmond, a member of the Nike Track Club, finished ninth in the finals of the women’s long jump with a jump of 6.42 meters (7-00.06 ft.).

The 2003 Indiana University graduate was an Olympian in 2004, a USA Indoor champion in 2005 and a USA Outdoor champion in 2006.

Aarik Wilson, also a volunteer assistant coach for the Jayhawks and Nike Club member, will compete in the finals of the men’s triple jump in Eugene on Sunday. Wilson posted the third-best jump in the preliminaries at 16.62 meters (18-00.53 ft.) to qualify for the finals.

A 2005 graduate of Indiana University, Wilson was the USA indoor and outdoor triple jump champion in 2007, a 2008 USA indoor champion, the 2005 NCAA triple and long jump indoor champion and a 10-time Big 10 champion.

The men’s triple jump finals begin Sunday at 6 p.m. CDT, and can be followed at http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/schedule.asp.