Blue-and-gold football updates

Workers have begun to tear up the old playing surface and construction has begun on the west end zone stands of the new FIU Stadium at University Park.

The stadium will be ready for its grand opening on Sept. 20 when the Golden Panthers face the University of South Florida’s Bulls. To take a peek at the progress, click here

In other news, FIU’s 2008 football games will be heard on WINZ 940-AM, starting with the season opener at Kansas on Aug. 30.

Golden Panther places at NCAA Championships, going to Summer Olympics

FIU senior Ronald Forbes concluded his college career on June 14 with an eighth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Forbes also qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing the previous night after months of trying.

In spite of running with a slight foot injury, Forbes posted a time of 14.05, which is his second-slowest time of the year.

“I want to commend Ronald for a great season,” said track and field head coach Eric Campbell. “I’m happy and thankful for what he has done and what he has meant to FIU and the track and field program.”

The Golden Panther already had guaranteed his All-American status by advancing to the finals as the fifth seed following the previous day’s 13.625 time, which broke his own school record and gave him the mark needed to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in China.

One of just three FIU men to ever garner All-American honors in track and field, Forbes finished his college career as a two-time All-American (outdoor 110-meter hurdles and indoor 60-meter hurdles), a three-time Sun Belt Conference champion and holder of three school records.

He will compete for his native Cayman Islands in the Olympics on Aug. 8-24.

White Sox draft Golden Panther

First baseman Jorge Castillo was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on June 6.

The senior Golden Panther was the 780th overall pick in the draft and the 97th FIU student-athlete to be drafted in the program’s history.

Castillo played a majority of the season as FIU’s starting third baseman and batted with .367 with nine home runs and team-leading 58 RBI. He also hit 19 doubles and struck out only 13 times in 229 at bats in 2008. In addition, he hit safely in 30 consecutive games during the season, the fourth-longest hitting streak in blue-and-gold history.