EUGENE, ORE. ? Kansas University volunteer assistant track-and-field coach Aarik Wilson won the finals of the men’s triple jump Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and advanced to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Wilson, a member of the Nike track club, won with a leap of 17.43 meters (57-21â4 feet). He entered the finals with the third best jump of the Trials. Having already achieved the Olympic “A” standard, all Wilson had to do was finish in the top three to earn a trip to Beijing. He left no doubt as he defeated runner-up Kenta Bell of the Mizuno track club by .2 meters. Rafeeq Curry rounded out the top three with a jump of 17.21 meters.

A 2005 graduate of Indiana University, Wilson was the USA Indoor and Outdoor triple jump champion in 2007, a 2008 USA Indoor champion, the 2005 NCAA triple and long jump Indoor champion and a 10-time Big 10 Champion.