May 13, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Freshman UCF sprinter/jumper Lizzie Harris (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern HS) has been named the Conference USA Track and Field Female Athlete of the Week for her strong performances in the UCF Invitational this past weekend, the league offices in Irving, Texas, announced Tuesday.
Harris becomes the second Knight this season to be named Track and Field Female Athlete of the Week after junior Dione Thomas earned the honor two weeks ago, which marked the first C-USA weekly track and field honor for UCF in school history.
"To have two outdoor athletes of the week this season is a great accomplishment for our program," UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert said. "It speaks highly of the job that each of our athletes and coaches have done this season. Lizzie had a great weekend, qualifying for regionals in three events. This gives us great enthusiasm and motivation heading into the Conference USA meet in El Paso this weekend."
Harris qualified for the NCAA East Regional in three events this past weekend. She ran the second leg of the school-record-setting 4x100-meter relay team that finished in an NCAA-qualifying time of 45.47. After becoming the school's first-ever NCAA All-America indoor selection in March (high jump), she qualified for regionals in the outdoor high jump on Saturday with a leap of 5-8.75/1.75m. Competing in the 400-meter hurdles for the first time this outdoor season, Harris qualified regionally in that event in a time of 59.80.
Harris holds three of the school's single-season record-setting 10 NCAA regional qualifying marks/times.
Harris and the UCF track and field team return to action May 15-17, when they travel to El Paso, Texas, to compete in the Conference USA Outdoor Championships. Complete results and a recap of UCF's participation in the C-USA Championships will be available at www.ucfathletics.com.
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