March 6, 2008

ARLINGTON - - UTA sprinter Takeshi Fujiwara has qualified for the International Association of Athletics Federation World Indoor Track and Field Championships scheduled March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain.

Fujiwara, running for El Salvador, qualified with a time of 49.19 in the 400 meters. His personal best in that event is 46.92.

Also competing at the world championships is Kajsa Haglund, a former Maverick runner who qualified for the world meet in the 1,500 meters. Haglund will be competing for Sweden on the strength of a personal-best time of 4:14.90.

Fujiwara recently enrolled at UTA before the indoor season and most recently competed in the Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. At the world championships March 7-9 in Valencia, Fujiwara is scheduled to run at 7:24 p.m. March 7 in Heat 5 against five other athletes. Fujiwara's personal-best of 46.92 is fifth-best in his heat.

Twenty-seven athletes are competing in the 400 meters. Fujiwara will need to finish first or second in his heat - or have one of the next two fastest times - to advance from his heat in the semifinals. The finals of the 400 meters are scheduled March 9 at 4:35 p.m.

Track and field fans can follow the results at www.iaaf.org.