Jan. 29, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF track and field team had a solid start to the Rod McCravy Invitational Friday evening in Lexington, Ky., with senior LaKendra Thames (Winter Garden, Fla.) leading the way with a school record in the weight throw.
Thames shattered her previous personal best in the weight throw, posting a top throw of 61-5.0/18.83m to just miss setting an NCAA provisional qualifying mark by just two-hundredths of a meter. The mark also easily bested the school record of 57-9.0 set last season by Kelsey Poljansek.
She was not the lone Knight to set a personal best and just miss an NCAA provisional qualifying mark as Samantha Shields (Orlando, Fla.) and Tomika Story (Orange Park, Fla.) also had solid performances in the pentathlon and triple jump respectively.
Shields, a junior, finished second in the pentathlon with 3,576 points, just over 100 from a provisional mark. Among her performances in the event was a first-place finish in the shot put, where she had a best toss of 38-2.75/11.65m.
Story, the sophomore transfer from Florida A&M, took second in the triple jump. Story's personal-best jump of 39-10.50/12.15m happened on her second attempt of the event.
"This was an excellent start to the weekend. Each of our student-athletes that competed today gave 100 % effort and the results show that," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. "LaKendra has improved each week and that speaks to how hard she has been working and what a great coaching job Jeff Chakouian is doing. This will definitely fuel some remarkable performances tomorrow in Kentucky and Sunday in Gainesville."
The Knights will have a full schedule of events as they complete the Rod McCravy Invitational on Saturday. The team's distance runners will then be in action Sunday at Florida.
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Rod McCravy Invitational - Jan. 29-30, 2010
University of Kentucky - Day 1
Weight Throw
7. LaKendra Thames, 18.83m/61-5.50 (PR)
21. Ashley Kirkpatrick, 14.24m/46-8.75
Triple Jump
2. Tomika Story, 12.15m/39-10.5 (PR)
Pentathlon
2. Samantha Shields, 3,576
60mH: 9.37 (2nd) High Jump: 5-3.75/1.62m (2nd) Shot Put: 38-2.75/11.65m (1st) Long Jump: 17-9.75 (2nd) 800m: 2:32.28 (2nd)
Key
PR = Personal Record