March 20, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Led by a school-record time in the 200-meter dash by sophomore Sheila Paul (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.), the UCF track and field team opened the outdoor season in successful fashion Saturday at the Black & Gold Challenge. The Knights hosted an elite field which included Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky.
"We enjoyed welcoming these talented teams and athletes from around the country to our campus and facility," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. "I thought our team had a strong day for the first meet of the outdoor season. We are excited to host another meet next weekend."
Paul had two first-place finishes Saturday, winning both the 100- and 200-meter dash. In the 100, Paul posted a time of 11.79. In the 200m, Paul broke her own school record, posting a time of 23.92 to win the event.
Champelle Brown (Oakland, Calif.) and Jackie Coward (Knoxville, Tenn.) fared well in the 400-meters. Brown claimed third place by finished in 55.34 while Coward took fifth with a personal-best 56.26.
Two Knights shattered personal bests in the 5,000-meter run. Senior Erica Weitz (Morganville, N.J.) took fourth in the event and bested her previous personal best by nearly 10 seconds with a time of 18:05.30 while junior Ocean Cohen (Sarasota, Fla.) finished fifth in 18:20.03, 11 seconds better than her previous best.
Senior Carley Dart (Whitby, Ontario) notched a personal best in the 1,500-meters, finishing fifth in 4:50.95.
The throwers and jumps posted a number of top-three finishes: Taylor Bartolotta (Javelin, 119-3/36.34m, 1st); LaKendra Thames (Hammer, 155-9/47.48m, 2nd) and (Discus, 161-10/49.32m, 2nd); Jessica Francis (Hammer, 152-4/46.43m, 3rd) and (Shot Put, 40-11.5/12.48m, 2nd); Sonnisha Williams (Long Jump, 18-7.25/5.67m, 1st); Jacquelyn Gilchrist (Long Jump, 18-1.75/5.53m, 3rd) and (Triple Jump, 37-2.25/11.33m, 2nd).
UCF assistant coach Jeff Chakouian competed as an unattached entry in the men's shot put on Saturday and performed well. Chakouian, in his first season at UCF, threw a top mark of 65-2.0/19.86m.
The Knights will host another meet next weekend with the UCF Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
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2010 Black & Gold Challenge
Orlando, Fla. - March 20, 2010
100m
1. Sheila Paul, 11.79 (-1.9)
8. Sonnisha Williams, 12.66 (-1.9)
9. Jacquelyn Gilchrist, 12.68w (+3.6)
100mH
4. Micaela Wimberly, 14.27
5. Santrell Atkins, 14.69
9. Ashley Bolling, 15.09
10. Samantha Shields, 15.43
200m
1. Sheila Paul, 23.92 (+0.5) (SR, PR)
10. Champelle Brown, 24.90 (+0.4)
12. Micaela Wimberly, 25.03 (+2.1)
18. Amanda Leland, 25.98 (+1.6)
19. Samantha Shields, 26.33 (-2.1)
21. Ashley Bolling, 26.46 (+1.6)
22. Dan'Elle Bellamy, 26.61 (-2.1)
400m
3. Champelle Brown, 55.34
5. Jackie Coward, 56.26 (PR)
8. Eva Pierce, 59.35
10. Dan'Elle Bellamy, 1:00.03
14. Amanda Leland, 1:05.23
400mH
3. Aisha-Maree Frazier, 1:02.59
800m
3. Kathia Skinner, 2:21.53
1500m
5. Carley Dart, 4:50.95 (PR)
13. Jaclyn Johnson, 5:35.28
5000m
4. Erica Weitz, 18:05.30 (PR)
5. Ocean Cohen, 18:20.03 (PR)
9. Jamie Rzepecki, 19:20.26
11. Mason Gardberg, 20:09.21
4x100m
2. UCF `A' (Wimberly, Williams, Brown, Paul), 45.62
6. UCF `B' (Bolling, Leland, Bellamy, Frazier), 48.39
4x400m
2. UCF `A' (Paul, Brown, Williams, Frazier), 3:49.75
4. UCF `B' (Bellamy, Pierce, Dart, Kathia Skinner), 3:54.56
Long Jump
1. Sonnisha Williams, 18-7.25/5.67m
3. Jacquelyn Gilchrist, 18-1.75/5.53m
Triple Jump
2. Jacquelyn Gilchrist, 37-2.25/11.33m
Hammer
2. LaKendra Thames, 155-9/47.48m
3. Jessica Francis, 152-4/46.43m
4. Ashley Kirkpatrick, 147-10/45.05m
Javelin
1. Taylor Bartolotta, 119-3/36.34m
Pole Vault
5. Erica Weiss, 10-6/3.20m
Discus
2. LaKendra Thames, 161-10/49.32m
4. Jessica Francis, 152-11/46.62m
Shot Put
2. Jessica Francis, 40-11.5/12.48m
Key
SR = school record
PR = personal record