Jan. 10, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF track and field squad opens its 2008 indoor campaign and the coach Caryl Smith Gilbert era this weekend when it travels to Blacksburg, Va., to participate in the Virginia Tech Invitational. The two-day event begins Friday at 5 p.m. in Rector Field House and continues Saturday at 9 a.m.
Participating teams in the Virginia Tech Invitational include: Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, Liberty, George Washington, Maryland, North Carolina A&T, Virginia, host Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
"Entering my first season at UCF, I want to get everyone in and out of the meet healthy with good, solid performances," Smith Gilbert said. "I'd like to work on ensuring that everyone is confident that they can perform up to the level that we are looking for. Every week, we are going to try to shoot for PRs. We open up this week and, from here on, we will shoot to improve on the previous week."
Smith Gilbert enters her first season at UCF after five years as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee, where she was responsible for coaching sprints, hurdles and jumps. During her tenure with the Lady Vols, Smith Gilbert's athletes won three NCAA titles, seven Southeastern Conference championships and earned 53 NCAA Division I All-America honors. They also established 19 school records.
The Knights return a talented corps of athletes from last year's squad, including 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year Jenny Clausen (Jackson, N.J.) and sophomore thrower LaKendra Thames (Winter Garden, Fla.), who finished among the top 20 at the USA Junior Championships this past summer. Thames and senior sprinter Victoria Chin (Orlando, Fla.) both appeared in the NCAA East Regional last season in their respective events.
This weekend's competition is the first of seven regular-season indoor meets in which the Knights will be participating leading up to the annual Conference USA Championships, which take place Feb. 29-March 1 in Houston, Texas.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
UCF Competitors at the Virginia Tech Invitational (January 11-12, 2008 - Blacksburg, Va.)
Friday, January 11 - Event - (NCAA Qualifying Marks ) - Time
Distance Medley Relay - (Auto: 11:11.00; Prov: 11:32.00) - 6:15 p.m.
Lineups TBA
Weight Throw - (Auto: 21.00; Prov: 18.75) - 7 p.m.
Jessica Francis
Christina Raphael
Virginia Traynor
800-Meter Run - (Auto: 2:05.40; Prov: 2:09.40) - 7:40 p.m.
Carley Dart
Jaclyn Johnson
Stephanie Knapp
Kristen Zieminski
500-Meter Dash - (Not an NCAA Championship Event) - 8:10 p.m.
Shantile Blackburn
Carley Dart
Stephanie Knapp
Kristen Zieminski
Saturday, January 12 - Event - (NCAA Qualifying Marks) - Time
High Jump - (Auto: 1.85; Prov: 1.78) - 9 a.m.
Sheree Carter
Long Jump - (Auto: 6.35; Prov: 6.10) - 12 p.m.
Sheree Carter
Dione Thomas
Mile Run - (Auto: 4:40.60; Prov: 4:48.60) - 12 p.m.
Jaclyn Johnson
400-Meter Dash - (Auto: 53.00; Prov: 55.00) - 1:15 p.m.
Victoria Chin
Lizzie Harris
Sade Nero
1,000-Meter Run - (Not an NCAA Championship Event) - 1:55 p.m.
Shantile Blackburn
Carley Dart
Jaclyn Johnson
Stephanie Knapp
Kristen Zieminski
Shot Put - (Auto:16.90; Prov: 15.20) - 2 p.m.
Jessica Francis
Christina Raphael
Virginia Traynor
200-Meter Dash - (Auto: 23.20; Prov: 23.90) - 2:25 p.m.
Feyisara Adaramola
Sheree Carter
Victoria Chin
Lizzie Harris
Sade Nero
Dione Thomas
4x400 Meter Relay - (Auto: 3:34.20; Prov: 3:41.20) - 4:30 p.m.
Lineups TBA