April 1, 2011
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - One week after setting the school record in the 400 meters, freshman Aurieyall Scott of the UCF outdoor track & field team set a new program mark in the 200 meters Friday at the Pepsi Florida Relays. Scott ran a 22.98 at the Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium, eclipsing the old record of 23.70 by just over seven-tenths of a second.
Scott's time is not only the fastest time in UCF's history, but is the fastest in the nation by any collegiate runner this season by two-tenths of a second (23.18). Her mark earned her second-place overall and the top collegiate finish Friday afternoon.
"Aurieyall ran an amazing race today," head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert said. "We still have some kinks to iron out in her race pattern, but I am very pleased with how well she ran today."
Fellow freshman and former record holder in the 200 Dominique Booker was fifth overall in 23.77, just seventh-hundredths of a second off the previous mark she set last week at the UCF Invitational.
Sophomore Sonnisha Williams also started the weekend in Gainesville on a strong note, taking first place in the long jump. A week after setting the new program record with a mark of 20-11.75/6.39m to take first place at the UCF Invitational, Williams claimed the top spot again Friday evening at the Florida Relays. The Knights' sophomore jumped a distance of 20-9.25/6.33m; almost seven inches farther than the second-place finisher from Ole Miss.
"Coach Paul Brown is doing a great job with Sonnisha and all the jumpers this season," Smith Gilbert added. "Sonnisha is very consistent in her jumps and I can feel a big jump for her in the coming weeks. This is a very difficult place for jumpers and she still came in here and won with a great mark."
Booker also ran in the 100 meters on Friday afternoon, setting a new personal-best time in the event as she crossed the line in 11.68 for seventh place. Lynne Layne finished 14th in 11.75, while Sheila Paul was 26th in 11.88.
Junior Jackie Coward was seventh overall and the third collegiate runner in the 100-meter hurdles. Running into the wind, Coward posted a 13.64 finish. Mica Wimberly (14th, 13.87), Karessa Farley (15th, 13.93) and Ashley Bolling (33rd, 14.37) all ran in the 100 hurdles for the Knights.
Coward also ran in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing 12th in 59.56. Sandy Jean's personal-best time of 1:00.89 earned her a 17th-place finish.
The 400 meters saw Champelle Brown finish 23rd in 55.14 and Afia Charles run a 56.27 to cross 33rd. UCF had three runners in the 800-meter race with Erica Winston leading the way for the Knights with a 2:14.53 to finish 20th. Freshman Ne'Ausha Logan (22nd, 2:15.05) and senior Carley Dart (29th, 2:16.38) rounded out the Black & Gold in the event. Mason Gardberg also ran in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing 14th in 12:22.17.
Destinee Romain finished 17th in the discus, the only throwing event Friday for the Knights. The freshman's throw of 135-11/41.43m was a new collegiate best by more than 16 feet. Satrina Oliveira also competed in the event, but did not record a mark.
"I spoke with the team after about trusting ourselves. We need to do a better job of trusting the process in our workouts and in our training if we are going to continue to get better in the outdoor season," Smith Gilbert said. "The second phase of the season is challenging, but will be a lot better once the whole team understands that idea of trust."
The Knights will wrap up the two-day meet tomorrow with events set to begin at noon.
UCF Track & Field
Florida Relays - Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium
Day 1 - April 1, 2011
100 Meters
7. Dominique Booker, 11.68 (-0.3)!
14. Lynne Layne, 11.75 (+2.6)
26. Sheila Paul, 11.88 (-2.7)
100 Meter Hurdles
7. Jackie Coward, 13.64 (-2.9)
14. Mica Wimberly, 13.87 (0.9)
15. Karessa Farley, 13.93 (-0.4)
33. Ashley Bolling 14.37 (-0.9)
200 Meters (Invite)
2. Aurieyall Scott, 22.98 (+1.7)^#!
5. Dominique Booker, 23.77 (+0.9)
19. Lynne Layne, 24.53 (+2.3)
400 Meters
23. Champelle Brown, 55.14
33. Afia Charles, 56.27
400 Meter Hurdles
12. Jackie Coward, 59.56
17. Sandy Jean, 1:00.89!
800 Meters
20. Erica Winston, 2:14.53
22. Ne'Ausha Logan, 2:15.05
29. Carley Dart, 2:16.38
1,500 Meters
39. Danielle Scaffidi, 4:57.17
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
14. Mason Gardberg, 12:22.17
Long Jump
1. Sonnisha Williams, 20-9.25/6.33m
Discus
17. Destinee Romain, 135-11/41.43m
--- Satrina Oliveira