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Smith Gilbert Leads UCF Track and Field to Impressive Season of Firsts

June 10, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Under the direction of first-year head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, the UCF track and field team recorded an impressive season of firsts in 2008, breaking numerous school records and qualifying the most participants for the NCAA East Regional in program history.

"This has been a great year and it was nice to have so many athletes participate in the regional championships," Smith Gilbert said. "It has been a great campaign and I am very excited about the future of this program."

In just one season, the Smith Gilbert Effect has produced:

  • The highest-ever finish (3rd) at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships in school history.
  • Twelve NCAA Regional-Qualifying Marks - Most in School History.
  • Four All-Conference USA Outdoor Honors (including 4x400 relay), the most in school history.
  • Four All-Conference USA Indoor Honors, the most in school history.
  • The first Conference USA Track & Field Female Athlete of the Week selection.
  • The first Conference USA Outdoor Individual Event Champion in School History (Sheree Carter)
  • The first Conference USA Indoor Individual Event Champion in School History (Lizzie Harris)
  • Twenty-three school records broken (12 indoor, 11 outdoor).
  • The first-ever NCAA Indoor Championships Participant in School History (Lizzie Harris).
  • The first-ever NCAA Indoor All-American in School History (Lizzie Harris).
  • Just the second CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team Member in School History (Kristen Zieminski).
  • The first Conference USA All-Academic Team Member in School History (Kristen Zieminski).

Awards and Honors for the 2008 Season include:

  • Shantile Blackburn - Conference USA 2008 Outdoor All-Conference (800m)
  • Sheree Carter - Conference USA 2008 Outdoor All-Conference (Heptathlon)
  • Lizzie Harris - NCAA Indoor All-American
  • Lizzie Harris - Conference USA Track & Field Female Athlete of the Week (May 13, 2008)
  • Lizzie Harris - Conference USA 2008 Outdoor All-Conference (400IH)
  • Lizzie Harris - Conference USA 2008 Indoor All-Conference (High Jump)
  • Dione Thomas - USTFCCCA All-East Region Team (Triple Jump)
  • Dione Thomas - Conference USA Track & Field Female Athlete of the Week (April 29, 2008)
  • Dione Thomas - Conference USA 2008 Indoor All-Conference (Triple Jump)
  • Dione Thomas - Conference USA 2008 Indoor All-Conference (Long Jump)
  • Micaela Wimberly - Conference USA 2008 Indoor All-Conference (60mH)
  • Kristen Zieminski - 2007-08 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
  • Kristen Zieminski - 2007-08 Conference USA All-Academic Team
  • 4x400-Meter Relay - Conference USA 2008 Outdoor All-Conference (Adaramola, Blackburn, Chin, Harris)

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