March 1, 2004
Two recent stars from the University of Notre Dame track and field program have secured spots on Team USA for the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary (March 5-7) with impressive performances at the USA Indoor Championships in Boston last weekend. Tameisha King (Mableton, Ga.) and Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn.) both posted impressive finishes at the national indoor meet and will represent the United States internationally in March.
King won the women’s long jump at the meet, jumping 6.45m (21-1) in her second-to-last jump in the finals. She out-jumped Grace Upshaw in second place (6.43m) and Antoinette Wilks in third (6.36m).
King was a four time All-American at Notre Dame and earned four BIG EAST Championships while competing for the Irish. She is serving as a volunteer assistant coach with the Notre Dame team this season while training for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and working on her post graduate studies.
Luke Watson, who earned national notoriety with an impressive victory in the 2003 Meyo Mile on Notre Dame’s campus, turned in a great performance in the 3,000 meters. Watson finished second to Jonathan Riley (7:57.69), crossing the finish line just behind the event winner (7:57.92).
Watson was an eight-time All-American for the Irish and won six BIG EAST Championships during his collegiate career. He runs professionally for adidas after graduating in 2002 and working toward his master’s degree while competing for Notre Dame in track and field during the 2003 season.
By finishing among the top two at the USA Indoor event held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Mass., King and Watson have assured themselves a spot in Team USA – which will compete at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics, March 5-7, in Budapest, Hungary.