Aug. 4, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The 2008 Summer Olympic Games are right around the corner, and four Jayhawks are set to begin action in Beijing.

Sasha Kaun, Nickesha Anderson, Scott Russell and Aarik Wilson each earned spots on their respective countries’ Olympic squads and hope to have successful showings at the games, which begin with the opening ceremony on Friday, Aug. 8.

Kaun, a member of the 2008 KU men’s basketball national championship team, has gotten a head start on the games, competing in pre-Olympic exhibition games with the Russian national men’s basketball team. He saw seven minutes of action Sunday in Russia’s 89-68 loss to the United States.

Kaun and the Russians, considered by many as strong contenders for a medal, begin preliminary round play Aug. 10 in Beijing as they face against Iran in the first game of the Olympics. Russia and Iran are in Group A along with Argentina, Australia, Croatia and Lithuania. Group B consists of the United States, Angola, China, Germany, Greece and Spain.

Wilson, a KU track and field volunteer assistant coach, qualified for the Olympics in the men’s triple jump. He will represent Team USA in Beijing. The qualification rounds for the men’s triple jump take place on Aug. 18, with the finals being held Aug. 21.

Russell, a former KU All-American, will represent Canada in the men’s javelin. The qualification rounds are on Aug. 21, with the finals taking the stage on Aug. 23.

Anderson is a senior sprinter on the KU women’s track and field team. She was selected to be a member of the Jamaican 4x100-meter relay team at the Olympics. The first round of the women’s 4x100-meter relay will be run on Aug. 21, with the finals following on Aug. 22.

Tim Weaver, former Kansas Relays meet director, will also be in Beijing this month. A manager on international track and field teams for five years, Weaver was selected for that same role on the United States team staff for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Olympic staff is made up of coaches and managers, and Weaver will be one of the managers that will help both the men’s and women’s track teams prepare for competition in Beijing.

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games begin Aug. 8 and continue through Aug. 24. Please visit www.kuathletics.com for updates on the Jayhawk Olympians in Beijing.