April 27, 2006
ORLANDO - In its final tune-up prior to the Conference USA Championship, the UCF women's track and field team hosts the Golden Knight Twilight on Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the UCF Track and Field Complex.
Headlining the Golden Knights' line-up in the final meet of the regular season are three NCAA Regional qualifiers - seniors Diana Chin and Tiffany Roebuck and junior Katie Fowke. The squad's fourth regional qualifier sophomore Victoria Chin is not competing this weekend.
Diana Chin, who earned the NCAA qualifying mark in the long jump at 19-feet, 8.25 inches only a week ago, returns to the event along with classmate Lynssey Hicks and freshman Dione Thomas. The elder Chin also races in the 100-meter hurdles, where she has narrowly missed the qualifying time in the past. Thomas, meanwhile, also competes in the triple jump for the second consecutive meet after posting a mark of 38-4.75.
Having already met the NCAA Regional standard in the hammer throw with a school record of 192-3, Roebuck is perfecting her toss in the shot put and discus in hope of qualifying in those two events as well. Sophomore Virginia Traynor also competes in the shot put after earning a season-best mark of 42-6 at the Bulldog Limited last week.
Fresh from a school record-breaking performance of 12-5.50, three-time NCAA Regional qualifier Fowke leads a talented group of pole vaulters that also includes fellow junior Tracy Fischler, sophomores Michelle Teuton and Kelsey Bealert and freshman Brittany McDermott.
The Golden Knights are also well-represented on the track as individual athletes focus upon bettering their times. Juniors Karen Kozub and Christina Jones go head-to-head with freshman Shantile Blackburn in the 800m, while junior Jenny Rogan and freshman Olinka Crusoe race in the 400m dash.
In their final preparation for the steeplechase at the conference championship, senior and two-time NCAA qualifier Andrea Morrow and sophomore Elizabeth Miller run the 3,000m event.
Senior Kylene Colasanti and freshman Michelle Ranc also enter the starting blocks to compete in the 400m hurdles.
The 2006 Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship takes place in El Paso, Texas from May 11-13.