Friday, August 26, 2005

Valparaiso University track and field coach Tyler Wingard has announced the addition of two graduate assistants to his staff for the upcoming season. Joining the program are Iryna Kharun and Greg Lott.

Kharun is a former Ukrainian national record holder in the javelin and a 2004 Olympic qualifier. She was the 2003 national champion at Indiana University and is the NCAA Division I national record-holder.

She has spent her summers coaching the javelin in her home country and coached high school and middle school track and field at the International School of Indiana in Indianapolis. She will work with the Crusader jumpers and throwers this season.

Lott was an All-American at Dickinson College where he was the 2004 runner-up in the 200m, a five-event national qualifier, and the MidEast Regional Athlete of the Year.

He continues to train in the sprints, most recently working with formerly world-ranked dashman Dennis Mitchell at the National Training Center in Florida.

In 2004, Lott led the sprints and hurdles at Buffalo State College where his top hurdler placed third at the NCAA Division III indoor national championship and was an outdoor national champion. He will lead the Crusader sprint and hurdle groups this season.

?I am very excited to add these two members to my staff," Wingard said. ?They both have great competitive experience and come highly recommended by other coaches for their work ethic and leadership qualities."