KU Volunteer Assistant Coach Wilson Advances to Beijing

July 6, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. – With a jump of 17.43 meters (57-02.25 ft.), KU volunteer assistant coach Aarik Wilson won the finals of the men’s triple jump Sunday evening at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials to advance to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Wilson, a member of the Nike Track Club, entered the finals with the third-best jump of the preliminaries. Having already achieved the Olympic “A” standard, all Wilson had to do was finish in the top three to earn a trip to Beijing. He left no doubt as he defeated runner-up Kenta Bell of the Mizuno track club by .20 meters (.66 ft.). Bell’s mark was 17.23 meters (56-06.50 ft.). Rafeeq Curry rounded out the top three with a jump of 17.21 meters (56-05.75 ft.).

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.

Wilson joined KU great Scott Russell (who won the men’s javelin finals at the Canadian Olympic Trials Saturday) and KU junior sprinter Nickesha Anderson (Jamaican women’s 4×100-meter relay team) as 2008 Olympians with Jayhawk ties.

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, begin Aug. 8 and continue through Aug. 24.