Jan. 30, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the second-straight day, senior LaKendra Thames (Winter Garden, Fla.) broke a school record for UCF as the Knights completed competition at the Rod McCravy Invitational in Lexington, Ky.
Less than 24 hours after shattering the school record in the weight throw, Thames had a top throw of 48-10.75/14.90m in the shot put Saturday to again put herself in the UCF record books.
For the third-straight weekend, UCF's All-American hurdlers Tiki James (Miami, Fla.) and Jackie Coward (Knoxville, Tenn.) posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 60-meter hurdles. In the finals, James and Coward went 1-2 with impressive times of 8.19 and 8.28 respectively. James' time was a season-best in the event. Sophomore Ashley Bolling joined the pair in the finals and ran a season-best 8.86.
"We had numerous great performances with LaKendra Thames breaking the school records in the weight throw and shot put," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. "Tiki James did an outstanding job winning the hurdles and running 8.19. Jackie Coward is on the brink of running a very fast time in the hurdles and has been consistently running NCAA provisional qualifying times."
Sophomore Jacqueline Gilchrist (Tallahassee, Fla.) had an impressive outing in the long jump, jumping a personal-best 19-1.25/5.82m on her best effort.
Sophomore Sheila Paul (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) finished in the top five in both the 60m dash and 200m dash. Paul took second and was the top collegiate finisher in the 60m finals with a time of 7.48, her best of the season. In the 200m dash, Paul ran a 24.67 to finish fourth.
"This weekend was up and down. We had personal records this weekend from Jacquelyn Gilchrist in the long jump, Tomika Story in the triple jump, Ashley Kirkpatrick in the weight throw and Samantha Sheilds in the pentathlon," Smith Gilbert said. "We are still looking for the very talented Sheila Paul and Sonnisha Williams, among others, to make an impact in the upcoming weeks. I am excited about the marks we earned this weekend and I am proud of how the team is beginning to mature."
The Knights distance runners will be in action Sunday in Gainesville when they compete in the Jimmy Carnes Meet.
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Rod McCravy Invitational - Jan. 29-30, 2010
University of Kentucky - Day 2
High Jump
T8. Sonnisha Williams, 5-2.25/1.58m
Long Jump
3. Jacqueline Gilchrist, 19-1.25/5.82m (PR)
19. Sonnisha Williams, 15-3.50/4.66m
Shot Put
8. LaKendra Thames, 48-10.75/14.90m (SR, PR)
60mH Prelims
1. Tiki James, 8.30 (P)
2. Jackie Coward, 8.39 (P)
17. Ashley Bolling, 9.01
60mH Finals
1. Tiki James, 8.19 (P)
2. Jackie Coward, 8.28 (P)
13. Ashley Bolling, 8.86
60m Prelims
3. Sheila Paul, 7.53
9. Tiki James, 7.71
31. Jacqueline Gilchrist, 8.05
32. Tomika Story, 8.08
60m Finals
2. Sheila Paul, 7.48
200m
4. Sheila Paul, 24.67 12. Jackie Coward, 25.09
400m
16. Aisha-Maree Frazier, 58.07
Key
P = NCAA Provisional Qualifying Mark
PR = Personal Record