May 17, 2008
EL PASO, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF junior Sheree Carter (Tallahassee, Fla.) became the first athlete in school history to win a Conference USA individual outdoor event championship on Friday when she captured the women's heptathlon and 10 athletes qualified for the finals in their respective events at Kidd Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. The Knights also had three athletes earn NCAA regional-qualifying marks/times to increase the team's total to 13 on the season and freshman Lizzie Harris (Miami, Fla.) broke the school record in the 100-meter hurdles.
The Knights are currently in seventh place at the meet with 24.33 total points.
Carter entered Friday's competition with a 255-point lead over SMU's Lauren Kuhner. On Thursday, she scored 3,118 points, winning three of four heptathlon events. Carter opened Friday's competition with a first-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 18-2.25/5.54m on her second attempt. That mark was recorded with a strong wind reading of +4.7 on a windy and rainy day at Kidd Field.
Carter finished eighth in the javelin throw with a toss of 64-5/19.64m on her first throw, but still held on to a narrow advantage with the 800-meter run serving as the determining event. Carter broke out to a quick lead in the 800-meter run, with a lane one starting assignment. She finished right behind the event's winner Brianna Steel of Tulsa, concluding the 800m in second place in a time of 2:27.76.
"Overall, it was a great day today," UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert said. "We had a Conference USA Champion in the heptathlon, three regional-qualifying marks and 10 finalists for tomorrow's events. Our confidence is growing and we are going to come out firing on all cylinders tomorrow. Coach [John] Ridgway has done a great job of getting all of the throwers to improve their marks and show up when it's time. Coach [Mason] Cathey's work with K10 [Kristen Zieminski] has been remarkable and must be noted. I am very proud of all of our seniors and the contributions they have made this meet and this season. Tomorrow is going to be another great day for UCF track and field."
The Knights put on a strong performance in the women's 100-meter hurdles with three athletes qualifying for the finals in that event. Senior Victoria Chin (Orlando, Fla.) finished third in the prelims of the event with a personal-best and regional qualifying time of 13.84 (+0.5). Harris finished in a personal-best time 13.77 (+0.2) to also qualify for regionals, while Carter finished in fifth in 13.94 (+0.6).
Each of the three UCF athletes competing in the 800-meter run also qualified for the finals in that event. Junior Shantile Blackburn (Brooklyn, N.Y.) won her heat in a time of 2:12.04, while senior Kristen Zieminski (Sarasota, Fla.) and senior Karen Kozub (Alden, N.Y.) also qualified. Kozub also was a qualifier for the finals in the 1,500-meter run.
Sophomore thrower LaKendra Thames (Winter Garden, Fla.) finished sixth in the shot put with a toss of 47-8/14.53m, a regional-qualifying mark.
Harris (1:00.89) and Chin (1:02.03) each qualified for the finals in the 400-meter hurdles. Harris also finished tied for second in the women's high jump with a toss of 5-5/1.65m.
Junior Dione Thomas (Jacksonville, Fla.) qualified for finals in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.99.
The final day of the Conference USA Championships begins Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT at Kidd Stadium.
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Heptathlon (NCAA Auto: 5,500; NCAA Prov: 5,050)
1. Sheree Carter - 4,833 points
1. 100-Meter Hurdles - 13.88 (+1.1) a 995 points
1. High Jump - 5-3/1.60m 736 points
6. Shot Put - 31-6.50/9.61m 504 points
1. 200-Meter Dash - 25.04 (+2.2) a 883 points
1. Long Jump - 18-2.25/5.45m (+4.7) w 712 points
8. Javelin - 64-5/19.64m 282 points
2. 800-Meter Run - 2:27.76 721 points
Women's Long Jump (RQS: 19-8.25/6.06m)
6. Dione Thomas - 19-2.75/5.86m (+0.1)
Shot Put (RQS: 46-11/14.30m)
6. LaKendra Thames - 47-8/14.53m
9. Virginia Traynor - 43-10.75/13.38m
15. Jessica Francis - 41-10.50/12.76m
1,500-Meter Run Prelims (RQS: 4:31.94)
7. Karen Kozub - 4:41.18q
High Jump (RQS: 5-8.75/1.75m)
2. Lizzie Harris - 5-5/1.65m
100 Hurdle Prelims (RQS: 13.88)
3. Lizzie Harris - 13.77 (+0.2) q
4. Victoria Chin - 13.84 (+0.5) Q
5. Sheree Carter - 13.94 (+0.6) q
9. Micaela Wimberly - 14.37 (+0.5)
100-Meter Dash Prelims (RQS: 11.72)
4. Dione Thomas - 11.99 (-0.7) q
10. Feyisara Adaramola - 12.21 (-1.0)
800-Meter Run Prelims (RQS: 2:10.28)
4. Shantile Blackburn - 2:12.04 Q
5. Kristen Zieminski - 2:12.03 q
7. Karen Kozub - 2:12.82 q
400 Hurdles Prelims (RQS: 1:00.71)
3. Lizzie Harris - 1:00.89 Q
7. Victoria Chin - 1:02.03 q
200-Meter Dash Prelims (RQS: 23.89)
16. Feyisara Adaramola - 25.16 (+0.6)
Steeplechase (RQS: 11:01.24)
9. Elizabeth Miller - 11:51.81