April 18, 2008
NASHVILLE (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF distance runners Karen Kozub (Alden, N.Y.), Jamie Rzepecki (East Aurora, N.Y) and Kristen Zieminski (Sarasota, Fla.) each ran personal-best times in their respective events Friday as the Knights battled incredibly rainy conditions on the opening day of the Vanderbilt Invitational. Kozub's finish in the 1,500-meter run went down as the second-fastest 1,500-meter time in school history.
Kozub, one week after notching an NCAA regional-qualifying time in the 800-meter run, ran a personal-best time of 4:37.78 in the 1,500-meter run. Running her first race of the 2008 outdoor season, Zieminski finished in a personal-best time of 4:42.30 in the 1,500, which shattered her previous best mark of 4:49.93, accomplished last season at the Pepsi Florida Relays.
Rzepecki, also running her first race of the 2008 outdoor season, ran a personal-best time of 18:03.03. That time eclipsed her previous PR of 18:38.83 last season at the FSU Relays.
Freshman thrower Christina Raphael (Miami, Fla.) notched a collegiate-best throw of 41-1.50 (12.53m) in the shot put as one of four Knights competing in that event on Friday.
Freshman sprinter Micaela Wimberly (Miami, Fla.) would have ran her fastest 200-meter dash since joining UCF, but her time of 24.79 was severely wind-aided with a wind reading of +2.8.
The event concludes on Saturday with the second day of the Vanderbilt Invitational, beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Another group of UCF Track and Field athletes will be competing in the National Training Center Spring Fling in Clermont, Fla. Complete results and a recap of the day's activities will be available at www.ucfathletics.com.
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UCF Results - Vanderbilt Invitational Day 1 (Friday, April 18, 2008 - Nashville, Tenn.)
Shot Put (RQS: 14.30m) - 5 p.m.
11. Virgina Traynor - 41-11.50/12.79m
16. Christina Raphael - 41-1.50/12.53m
16. LaKendra Thames - 41-1.50/12.53m
19. Jessica Francis - 40-0.50/12.20m
200-Meter Dash (23.96) - 6:30 p.m.
18. Micaela Wimberly - 24.79 (+2.8)
1,500-Meter Run (4:27.80) - 8 p.m.
9. Karen Kozub - 4:37.78
11. Kristen Zieminski - 4:42.30
Steeplechase (10:50.25) - 8:45 p.m.
8. Elizabeth Miller - 11:43.33
5,000-Meter Run (16:52.00) - 9:20 p.m.
8. Jamie Rzepecki - 18:03.03