Jan. 13, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
BLACKSBURG, Va. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 6 UCF track and field team saw some of the best performances in the country and boasted three medal winners in its indoor season opener on Friday night in day one of the Virginia Tech Invitational.
UCF had three runners advance to the finals of the 60 Meters, boasting the best showing of any team at the meet. In the first race of her collegiate career, Octavious Freeman qualified with the second fastest time (7.37) for the finals. She shaved .10 off her time, running 7.27 to claim first in the finals. That time ranked first in the country at time of publication and fell .04 shy of the NCAA Championships automatic qualifying time.
Freshman Christal Peterson announced her collegiate debut with a personal best 7.44 in the 60 Meter finals for a fourth place finish and the ninth best time in the country at the time of publication.
"Overall we had a pretty good day. We made some mental mistakes in some of the preliminary events but we were able to pull them together and have a respectable showing in the finals," UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert said. "Octavious Freeman ran a great race and competed well. I thought the sprinters had a solid effort in the finals, and we're looking forward to tomorrow."
Freshman Precious Ogunleye broke UCF's five-year-old freshman record for the weight throw with a toss of 15.44 meters (50-08) to take ninth place. Destinee Romain also recorded a personal best 14.82 meters (48-07.50) in the weight throw.
Senior Jacquelyn Gilchrist took second place in the triple jump, posting 12.47 meters (40-11), which not only topped her indoor personal record but her outdoor PR, as well. At the time of publication, her performance ranked seventh in the country.
"The throwers did a great job of displaying all the hard work that they and Coach Chakouian have put in this year," Smith Gilbert said. "I was very impressed with Jacquelyn Gilchrist in the triple jump. She recorded a PR after only two jumps - that was the plan."
Senior Jackie Coward finished just a toe behind Clemson's Bridgette Owens to medal in the 60 Hurdles with a time of 8.22 for a third-place finish. She fell .02 short of her best time in a season opening race and at the time of publication ranked as the fifth fastest time in the country.
Sophomore Afia Charles placed fourth in the 300 Meters with a time of 38.66, which tops her previous personal record and school record set last year at the Hokie Invitational. The time ranked fifth in the country on Saturday night.
Sophomore Ne'Ausha Logan produced a personal best 5:20.11 in the mile while sophomore Jen Clayton recorded a personal record 7.67 in the 60 Meter prelims.
Competition will resume tomorrow at 11 a.m. with the pole vault. Several Knights will also be participating at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Check back with UCFAthletics.com for the final results.