Dec. 7, 2006

Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa's track and field program has announced the addition of nine student-athletes, six women and three men, who have signed National Letters of Intent to compete at TU.

The Golden Hurricane women brought in a strong class highlighted by local standout Jennifer Mace. Mace, a native of Owasso, was the Oklahoma State Champion in the 400m and has personal bests of 25.07 in the 200m and 56.56 in the 400m.

TU adds two other Americans to a class that has a multi-national flare. Kelsey Klein of Glendale, Ariz., brings the ability to be a muti-eventer to TU. Klein won the high jump at the Arizona State Track Meet and also placed in the shot put, discus and triple jump. She also has a personal best of 5-6 in the high jump. She will be joined by Newfane, New York, native Brianna Steel. Steel will also multi-event at TU and was the runner-up at the New York State meet in the pentathlon. She owns a best of 5-6 in the high jump and a score of 3,156 in the pentathlon.

The other half of the women's class will be Ashley Aitken, Ashlea Gilfillan and Maryke Rossouw. Aitken hails from Napier, New Zealand, and was the New Zealand Junior champion in the 800m. She was also the seventh place finisher in the New Zealand Secondary Cross Country Championships and owns personal bests of 2:09 in the 800m and 4:38 in the 1,500m.

Gilfillan comes by way of Channon, Australia, and was the champion of the Australian Junior National Cross Country Championships. She has posted personal bests of 2:13 in the 800m, 4:34 in the 1,500m and 10:50 in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Roussow is a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, and represented South Africa at the Southern Region Cross Country Championships. She has clocked personal bests of 4:39 in the 1,500m and 10:10 in the 3,000m.

The men will add three and will also have a decidedly international look.

Josh Butts, a native of Tulsa, Okla., will join the Golden Hurricane as a transfer from Rogers State and a three-year stint in the U. S. Armed Forces. He has posted bests of 1:54 in the 800m and 4:16 in the mile.

Atilla Keresi hails from Subotica, Serbia, and was the 400m champion at the Serbia Junior Championships. He has turned in personal bests of 6.91 in the 60m and 47.8 in the 400m.

Rounding out the men's class is Lewis Timmins who comes to TU by way of Newcastle, England, and represented England at the 2006 World Junior Cross Country Championships. He has also posted personal bests of 1:54 in the 800m, 3:56 in the 1,500m and 8:32 in the 3,000m.