April 8, 2011
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF track & field and cross country programs continue to add talent to the roster for the 2011-12 academic year. Head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert and her staff has announced the signing of three more student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for next season.
Christal Peterson (Hampton, Va.), Amelia Williams (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) and Kalen Hambrick (Leesburg, Fla.) will all join the Knights this upcoming fall.
Peterson is currently in her senior season at Phoebus High School, running for head coach Brian Rountree. A member of the USA Track & Field, Peterson ran at the 2011 Germany-Japan-USA Trilateral Friendly Indoor Meet in early February where she finished third in the 60 meters in 7.53. At the 2010 Nike Indoor Championships, she ran a 7.50 in the finals of the 60 meters to become the national champion in the event. An honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society, Peterson also played varsity basketball during her four years at Phoebus.
Williams will join both the cross country and track & field teams in the fall. Presently in her senior outdoor season at The Bolles School, she will add depth to the Knights' cross country program after placing eighth at the 2010 2A State Meet last fall. While at The Bolles School, Williams was also a member of the track & field team competing in the 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,600 meters and the pole vault.
Hambrick will join the young core of UCF throwers in 2012 after a standout career at Tavares High School. A school recorder holder in the discus (142-2/43.35m), she is one of the top throwers in Florida in both the discus and the shot put. In late March, Hambrick placed first in both the shot put (34-4.25/10.47m) and the discus (138-8/42.26m) at The Villages Quad Meet. Another incoming athlete with strong academics, Hambrick posted a high grade-point average and earned her high school diploma six months early, while also playing four years on the volleyball team in addition to track & field.
The latest additions to next year's program, they will join Octavious Freeman (Lake Wales, Fla.), Teresa Huff (Titusville, Fla.) and Precious Ogunleye (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) who all signed NLI's earlier this spring.