May 1, 2006
ORLANDO - Several members of the UCF women's track and field and cross country teams were honored as the Golden Knights celebrated the 2005-06 season at their annual banquet on Sunday.
Seniors Diana Chin and Tiffany Roebuck shared the track and field team's athlete of the year honors. The school recordholder in the 55m hurdles, 100m hurdles and long jump, Chin qualified for her second consecutive NCAA Regional in the long jump with a mark of 19-feet, 8.25 inches at the Bulldog Limited in April. She also took third in the long jump at the Conference USA Indoor Championship in February and earned all-conference honors for the effort.
Roebuck, meanwhile, holds four of the five UCF throwing records as she shattered her own school record in the hammer throw by seven inches earlier this season with a toss of 192-3. The mark also qualified her for a third straight NCAA Regional in the event. During the league's indoor championship, Roebuck received all-conference honors after breaking the school record and finishing in second place in the weight throw.
Receiving the nod as the team's freshman of the year was middle distance runner Shantile Blackburn. She is ranked third all-time at UCF in the 800m with a time of 2:12.99 and is fourth all-time in the 1500m at 4:41.72. Both performances top the Golden Knights' depth chart for the season.
The scholar-athlete award went to junior pole vaulter Tracy Fischler. Joining the team in 2004 after one year as a member of the Golden Knights' spirit squad, Fischler has since landed the No. 2 spot all-time in the school recordbooks with a mark of 11-5.75. A pre-med major, she will attend Florida State's College of Medicine this fall.
The Coach's Award, which recognizes the most improved athlete, went to sophomore Elizabeth Miller. Making her debut in the 3,000m steeplechase this season, Miller is ranked fourth all-time at UCF in the event with a time of 11:48.57.
The UCF cross country teams also honored a handful of athletes. On the women's side, senior Andrea Morrow was named runner of the year, while Jamie Rzepecki was selected a freshman of the year.
Sophomore Allison Palmer and junior Paul Nielsen received the scholar-athlete awards and the Coach's Award went to freshman Daniel Conn.
The UCF track and field team continues its season with the 2006 C-USA Outdoor Championship from May 13-15 in El Paso, Texas.