June 23, 2008

UPLAND, Ind. - 1999 Taylor (Ind.) University graduate Joe Cebulski has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials in the decathlon. The Trials will be held in Eugene, Oregon on June 27 - July 6.

The 31-year old native of Grand Rapids, Michigan has been battling injury and illness over the past few years and moved to California with his wife Laura and daughter Rowan last summer to work under the tutelage of Dan Pfaff in an effort to attain his goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

Cebulski, who claimed an NAIA National Championship in the decathlon as a Trojan, posted a total of 7907 points in the grueling two-day, ten-event affair at the Texas Greatest Athlete Decathlon competition on June 13-14. Cebulski had to dig deep in his final event, the 1500-meter run, to hit the qualifying mark. He needed at least a 4:45.00 to hit the provisional point total of 7800, but came through with a two-second personal best of 4:29.41 to nail down the automatic mark.

The automatic mark provides Cebulski with a spot at the Trials regardless of how many other athletes qualify, while a provisional mark only puts him in the running for an open spot.