Feb. 22, 2006
ORLANDO - The UCF women's track and field team makes school history this weekend when it travels to the 2006 Conference USA Track and Field Championship, hosted by Houston from Feb. 24-25. The Golden Knights are participating in the program's first ever indoor championship.
After winning the Atlantic Sun Conference Outdoor Championship in eight times in 10 years, including the last six consecutive crowns, UCF faces a tough test in the squad's inaugural season in C-USA.
"The competition level is so much higher in this league with teams like Houston, Rice and UTEP," said UCF head coach Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "I think we have some athletes who are up to the challenge. With a good meet, I hope to finish in the top half of the standings."
Several Golden Knights, including seniors Diana Chin and Tiffany Roebuck, enter the weekend in good position in the conference rankings. Chin is listed fifth in the long jump after posting a mark of 18-feet, 11.75 inches at the UNC Fast Times meet in January, while she is seventh in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.84.
With a season-best mark of 44-6.25, Roebuck sits in fourth in the shot put and also has a mark of 49-1.75 in the weight throw. Chin is joined by her sister, sophomore Victoria Chin in the 60mH. The younger sibling is ranked eighth in the conference at 8.88.
The Golden Knights will also be well-represented in the pole vault as sophomore Michelle Teuton is fourth at 11-5.75, which stands as the school's all-time best indoor mark in the event, while junior and UCF overall record holder Katie Fowke is tied for sixth at 10-11.75. Junior Tracy Fishler, sophomore Kelsey Bealeart and freshman Brittney McDermott also compete in the event for the Black and Gold.
After posting the second best pentathlon effort in the history of the program with 3,208 points at the UNC Fast Times meet, freshman Sheree Carter (Tallahassee/Godby HS) is looking to improve upon her score and participates in the high jump as a single event as well this weekend.
The Golden Knights also look for impressive performances on the track, where the team is led by past NCAA Regional qualifiers Karen Kozub and Andrea Morrow in the middle distance and distance events. UCF also races in the sprints, 4X400m relay and distance medley relay.
The meet begins both days at 9 a.m. Fans can follow the action via the live results at www.flashresults.com.