Jan. 13, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF women's track and field team opens its inaugural season in Conference USA in a familiar fashion at the UF Intercollegiate Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. on Sunday.
Leading the Golden Knights is a trio of seniors - Diana Chin, Tiffany Roebuck and Andrea Morrow, all school record holders.
During last year's indoor season, Chin set the school record in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.16 seconds before also recording a program best mark of 20-feet, 0.25 inches in the long jump during the outdoor season. She will compete in both events this weekend.
Among her competitors in the 55m hurdles is sophomore Victoria Chin, who is currently the second all-time at UCF with a time of 8.19. The younger Chin sibling will also race in the 400m and 4x400m relay.
A school record holder in the shot put (47-2.5), discus (153-8) and hammer throw (185-10), Roebuck was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Performer of the Year in 2005 after winning all three events at the conference meet. On Sunday, she vies for the title in the shot put and makes her collegiate debut in the weight throw. Joining her in the shot put is sophomore and third-team all-conference honoree Virginia Traynor.
Morrow, meanwhile, holds the UCF record in the steeplechase at 10:50.27. She and junior Karen Kozub are scheduled to run in the mile.
The Golden Knights are also represented in the pole vault with junior Katie Fowke and sophomore Michelle Teuton. Fowke has twice earned a UCF record with a leap of 12-0, while Teuton was a second-team all-conference honoree last season.
Another senior Lynssey Hicks will also be featured in the 55m, 200m and long jump along with rookie Dione Thomas.
Among the other athletes making their collegiate debuts with the women's track team are freshmen Shantile Blackburn, Jamie Rzepecki, Sheree Carter and Olinka Crusoe. Blackburn and Rzepecki were standouts last fall for the Golden Knight cross country squad and are expected to run the 800m and 3,000m, respectively. Carter takes on all comers in the high jump, long jump and 55m hurdles, while Crusoe races in the 400m and 4x400m relay.