July 16, 2004 – Atlanta – Morehouse College freshman Keith Moffatt has advanced to the high jump finals of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. The finals, being held in Sacramento, CA, will be staged Sunday and televised on NBC at 7 p.m.

Moffatt, from Newport News, Virginia, went to the trials as a “provisional” qualifier. His best leap of 7’- 4 ½,” which set an SIAC record in April, was just below the Olympic qualifying “standard” of 7’-6.” But the high-flying Maroon Tiger has shown that he can jump with the big boys and a couple of solid jumps could land the 18-year-old leaper in Athens.

Moffatt is the reining NCAA Division II indoor and SIAC high jump champion and record holder. He finished second in the NCAA Division II outdoor championships in May. His best jump that day of 7’- 2 ¼” placed him in a three-way tie for first place, but because of a failed attempt at a lower height, Moffatt was awarded second place

Gregory Roberts, a former Morehouse student-athlete also competed in the preliminary high jump flight, but failed to make the finals. Roberts now represents the U.S. Army where he enlisted after leaving Morehouse. While competing for the Maroon Tigers, Roberts won the SIAC high jump championship. His leap of 7’-5 ¼” in 1997 is the current NCAA Division II national high jump record.