Nov. 10, 2008

Tallahassee, Fla. —   Members of Florida State’s national championship men’s track and field team will travel to Washington D.C. on Tuesday and will be honored at the White House by President George W. Bush on Wednesday afternoon.

The Seminoles have won three straight NCAA outdoor men’s championships and 11 of the 2008 NCAA qualifiers along with head coach Bob Braman, four assistant coaches, and former FSU head coach Terry Long will join FSU Director of Athletics Randy Spetman on the White House trip.

The Florida State contingent will gather at Mike Long track Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. and fly to Washington D.C.  The Seminoles will visit the Smithsonian Institute on Tuesday afternoon before a team dinner on Tuesday night.

Florida State’s travel party will arrive at the White House at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday for a tour and will be honored by President Bush at a reception and lunch on the South Lawn at 3:30.

“It is a great opportunity for these athletes to be able to visit the nation’s capital and be honored by the President,” said FSU head coach Bob Braman.  “It is certainly not something you take for granted and one of the special events that goes along with winning a national championship.  Not only are we bringing some of the finest track and field athletes in the country, but there are a number of very highly accomplished students in our FSU contingent as well.  I would love to make this a regular stop.”

The Florida State travel party will return to Tallahassee on Wednesday night.

FSU Track Team Travel Party       

Gonzalo Barroilhet     SO      Decathlon                         Santiago, Chile

Drew Brunson           SR      Hurdles, Jumps                   Snellville, GA

Mark Buckingham      SR      Distance                           Huddersfield, England

Brandon Byram         SO      Sprints, Long Jump             Gallatin, TN

Brian Chibudu           SO      Jumps                              Harare, Zimbabwe

Charles Clark            JR       Sprints                             Virginia Beach, VA

Javier Garcia-Tunon  SR      Sprints, Hurdles                  Miami, FL

Luke Gunn               SR      Distance, Steeplechase       Derby, England

Hubert Mitchell         SR      Sprints                             W. Palm Beach, FL

Pablo Navarrete        SO      Sprints, Mid-Distance          Santiago, Chile

Ray Taylor               SR      Jumps                              Sanguinetti, Jamaica

Bob Braman             Head Coach

Harlis Meadors          Assistant Head Coach

Karen Harvey           Head Women’s Cross Country Coach, Assistant Track Coach

Ken Harnden            Assistant Coach

Dennis Nobles           Assistant Coach

itineary

tuesday

7:45                       Flight departs tallahassee

11:48                     fsu party arrives dulles airport

4:15-6:00               fsu party tours smithsonian institute

7:00                       team dinner

wednesday

12:15                     fsu party departs for white house

1:00                       fsu party tours white house

3:00                       photo opportunity with president bush

3:30                       president’s address and lunch on south lawn

10:50                     fsu party arrives in tallahassee