The World University Games Trials, held on Friday, features collegiate athletes vying for spots on the 2007 World University Games Team that will compete in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 8-18.

The Trials will feature top competitors such as 2004 Olympic silver medalist Nia Abdallah (Houston, Texas); 2005 World University Games bronze medalists Charles A. Smith (Ft. Washington, Md.) and Elizabeth Shakhnovich (Boston, Mass.), and fellow 2005 WUG teammates Stephanie Beckel (Miami, Fla.), La Shondra Rawls (Clinton, Md.), Jason Neville (Edmond, Okla.), Rudford Hamon (Miami, Fla.), Taren Ogata (Sacramento, Calif.) and Christina Park (New York, N.Y.); 2006 Senior National Team member Stephen Lambdin (Colleyville, Texas); 2007 collegiate champions Jesika Torres (San Bernardino, Calif.), Kenneth Carter, Jr. (Columbia, S.C.), Trevor Neville (Edmond, Okla.) and Darcy Kimmich (Aurora, Colo.); 2006 Junior National Team members Jermaine James (Cape Coral, Fla.), Cody Stanger (Walnut, Calif.) and Christina Johnson (Germantown, Md.); 2005 Junior National Team members Markie Keelan (Camarillo, Calif.), Justin Sawyer (Anchorage, Alaska) and Dennis Rudasill (Fayetteville, Ark.); 2007 collegiate silver medalists John Kimmich (Aurora, Colo.), Yannick Smith (Snow Hill, N.C.), Sean Keeton (Orlando, Fla.), Tal Moriah (Houston, Texas), Andrea Ferkile (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Andrew Oh (Bayside, N.Y.); 2007 collegiate bronze medalist Amy Maillet (Orange, Mass.); 2006 national bronze medalist Anthony Bell (Alexandria, Va.); 2007 U.S. Open bronze medalist Manuel Suarez (Miami, Fla.); 2006 national champion Steven Lin (Chatham, N.J.); and 2006 collegiate champions James Howe (Miami, Fla.) and Danielle Pelham (Bothell, Wash.).

The National Qualifier, held on Saturday and Sunday, is the fourth of six qualifying events for 2007. Over 420 athletes, ranging in age from 6-32, are expected to compete. The competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. on both days. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Adult (11-59) tickets are $10 for a single-day pass or $16 for a two-day pass. Children (4-10) and seniors (60+) are $7 for a single-day pass and $12 for a two-day pass.

Other USAT National Qualifiers scheduled for 2007 are in Dallas, Texas (March 17-18), Portland, Ore. (April 14-15), Providence, R.I. (April 21-22), Miami, Fla. (May 26-27) and Fresno, Calif. (June 2-3).

The National Qualifiers are qualification events for those athletes interested in competing in the World Class Division at the 2007 USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships and the 2007 USAT National Taekwondo Championships. Each of the top four black belt athletes per weight division in the male divisions and the top four black belt athletes in the female divisions at each qualifier will qualify for the World Class division at the USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships and the USAT Senior National Championships (July 10-15 in San Jose, Calif.).

Athletes that medal in the World Class Division at the Junior Olympics and USAT Nationals also have a chance to qualify for development camps hosted by the USAT and further advance to international competitions. The World Class Division is an important element for the USAT in recognizing talent with the potential to represent the USA in future international competitions. The gold medalists from the World Class Division at the 2007 USA Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships in San Jose will qualify for the Junior National Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 25-26. Winners from the Team Trials will compete at the Junior Pan American Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct. 5-6.

Senior competitors that finish in the top two at the Senior National Championships in San Jose will qualify for the Olympic Team Trials scheduled for Aug. 23-25 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In addition to many of the SWUG Trials competitors, other top athletes in the Kansas City National Qualifier include 2006 Junior National Team members John Hansel (Ashburn, Va.) and Bernard Posey (Greensboro, N.C.); 2007 U.S. Open gold medalist Damian Villa (Los Angeles, Calif.); 2006 national champions Jayson Grant (Worcester, Mass.) and Paige McPherson (Sturgis, S.D.); and 2006 national bronze medalists Brandy Von Holten (Higginsville, Mo.), Emilio Dosal (Houston, Texas), Laurissa Tanielu (Blue Island, Ill.) and Alexis Goldman (Carrboro, N.C.).

For more information or to reserve a media credential, contact Bill Kellick at 719-866-3626 or 719-232-7792.