June 22, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville track and field head coach Ron Mann will travel to Carson, Calif., this week as USA Track & Field finalizes its team members for the 2005 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships during the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 23-26 at the Home Depot Center. Mann, who recently completed his first season at U of L, will serve as jumps coach for USA Track & Field at the World Championships on August 6-14 in Helsinki, Finland.

"I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to represent the United States at such a prestigious international competition like the World Championships," Mann said. "It should be a wonderful experience and will allow me to make invaluable contacts, both technically and professionally, which will in turn help me to be a better coach for the University of Louisville."

Mann is one of five assistant coaches who will join Team USA men's head coach John Smith as they complete the Team USA roster for the World Championships during this weekend's competition. The coaches will have a preliminary meeting on Wednesday and will then meet on Monday following the completion of the event to finalize the team roster.

The 2005 IAAF World Championships will be the second major international event for Mann who previously served as head coach for the US Junior National Team at the 1993 PanAm Games.

Following the World Championships in August, Mann will return to Louisville as the Cardinals will open the 2005 cross country season on Sept. 2 at the Woodford Trials in Versailles, Ky.