April 4, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF track and field team completed action in the Florida Relays Saturday at James G. Pressly Stadium, and the Knights had another strong day in breaking three school records and posting four NCAA regional qualifying marks.
"The team is really coming on strong midway through the season," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. "This weekend at the Florida Relays we competed in great weather and had some great performances with numerous school records and NCAA qualifiers. Those are the things we are shooting for each week."
Junior Kelsey Poljansek (Milton, Kan.), the reigning Conference USA Athlete of the Week, had NCAA regional qualifying marks in both the shot put and the discus. Poljansek finished second in the discus with a mark of 163-10/49.95m, and broke her own school record in the shot put with a toss of 49-3.75/15.03m.
Sophomore Lizzie Harris (Miami, Fla.), who broke the school record in the 400-meter hurdles on Friday, came back strong Saturday in numerous events. Harris competed on four relay teams, helping the 4x100-meter relay to an NCAA regional qualifying mark and running the third leg on the school record-breaking shuttle relay. She also ran a 54-second anchor leg in the 4x400-meter relay team
"Again Kelsey did a great job in the shot put," said Smith Gilbert. "Lizzie Harris had a great weekend overall with a school record in the 400-meter hurdles, a great leg in the record-breaking shuttle relay and a 54-second anchor split in the 4x400-meter relay."
In other action, the Knights got an NCAA regional mark from Dione Thomas (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the triple jump when the senior had a jump of 41-1.50/12.53m.
In the 4x800-meter run, Shantile Blackburn (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Katrina Skinner (Tampa, Fla.), Kathia Skinner (Tampa, Fla.) and Carley Dart (Sarasota, Fla.) teamed together to shatter the school record with a run of 9:01.70.
For the weekend, UCF accumulated eight NCAA qualifying marks and broke five school records.
"The team is really starting to gel and doing a good job supporting each other until the end of each meet," added Smith Gilbert. "They have been working hard in practice and they are learning that you get what you give. There is one answer to success and that is hard work, consistency and sacrifice. I am trying to instill these virtues to our team. We look forward to heading to Miami and competing in some more good weather next weekend."
UCF competes next Saturday, April 11, at the Miami Elite Invitational in Miami, Fla.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Florida Relays
April 4, 2009
Day Two
Discus
2. Kelsey Poljansek, 163-10, 49.95 (N)
Shot Put
7. Kelsey Poljansek, 49-3.75/15.03m (N, SR)
Triple Jump
3. Dione Thomas, 41-1.50/12.53m (-0.8) (N)
1600m Sprint Medley
9. UCF `A' (Shantile Blackburn, Katrina Skinner, Aisha-Maree Frazier, Lizzie Harris), 3:57.54
4x100m Shuttle Hurdle
2. UCF `A' (James, Coward, Harris, Wimberly) 55.15 (SR)
4x100m
10. UCF `A' (James, Harris, Thomas, Paul), 45.62 (N)
4x400-meter relay
18. UCF `A' (Blackburn, Coward, Paul, Harris), 3:45.79
4x800m
4. UCF `A' (Blackburn, Skinner, Skinner, Dart), 9:01.70 (SR)
1500m
15. Ocean Cohen, 18:33.42
Key
N - NCAA regional qualifying mark
SR - school record