May 13, 2010
By Andrew Gavin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The heptathlon and decathlon kicked off action Thursday as the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships got underway Thursday at the UCF Track & Field Complex. The event marks the first time the championships have been held in Orlando since UCF joined C-USA.
UCF's Samantha Shields (Orlando, Fla.) is the lone Knight competing in the heptathlon, and the junior sits in sixth place out of 16 athletes after four events. The 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200-meter dash were conducted Thursday, with the remaining three events set for Friday.
Shields made up significant ground in the day's third event, finishing first in the shot put to score 696 points. With 2,884 points overall, Shields is 247 points behind the leader, Tulsa's Lydia Chamberlin.
In the decathlon, Rice's Philip Adam sits on top halfway through the 10 events with 3,883 points. He leads teammate Connor Hayes (3,558), who is second out of six athletes.
UCF's LaKendra Thames (Winter Garden, Fla.) and Ashley Kirkpatrick (Lake Mary, Fla.) will be in action Friday morning in the finals of the hammer throw. After the conclusion of the heptathlon and decathlon in the afternoon, the Knights' Ocean Cohen (Sarasota, Fla.) will compete in the 10,000-meter run at 8:30 p.m.
The championships continue through Sunday at the C-USA Championships. Tickets are currently available on UCFAthletics.com and Ticketmaster and can also be purchased in person at the event. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $7 for youth each day, and all session tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for youths.
More information about the championships, including a full schedule of events, records and live results, can be accessed at C-USA Championship Central.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to 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 UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.