Jan. 21, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 6 UCF track and field team witnessed its first NCAA automatic qualifying performance of the season on Saturday at the Auburn Indoor Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Freshman Octavious Freemanimproved upon her national best 60-meter time from last week's season opener to clock 7.23 for second place and solidify her spot at nationals in March.
Freeman also improved her 200-Meter personal best with a time of 23.77 for sixth place and the Knights' best finish in the event. The time ranks among the top 25 in the nation.
Freshman Precious Ogunleyebroke the UCF freshman records in the weight throw and shot put for the second-consecutive week. She recorded a personal best throw of 16.08m (52-09.25) in the weight throw on Friday night before smashing the record in the shot put on Saturday with a personal best 14.64m (48-00.50).
Tomika Storyclaimed the triple jump crown with a leap of12.44m (40-09.75) for her best performance in the event in two years.
Sophomore Jen Clayton recorded a personal best for the second-straight week in the 60m with a time of 7.65 in the preliminaries. Senior Jackie Cowardalso improved her personal best in her first stab at the event this season with 7.70 in the prelims.
Sophomore Destinee Romainimproved her personal best from last week by more than 15 feet, taking eighth place in the weight throw with a mark of 16.72m (54-10.25).
Afia Charlescompeted in her first 400-Meter race of the year after setting the school and freshman record in the event during last year's outdoor season. She set an indoor personal best with a time of 55.66.
Erica Winston, Coward and Sonnisha Williamsall earned top-five finishes in their respective events. Winston set personal best in the 800-Meter run with a time of 2:15.34. Coward ran 8.32 in the 60 Hurdles for another performance that ranks among the top 15 in the nation, and Williams produced a mark of 5.95m (19-06.25) in the long jump.
"Our performances were solid today but lacked intensity," Head Coach Caryl Smith Gilbertsaid. "Everyone is not 100 percent healthy yet and others have to begin to focus on the task that is required in order to reach their desired outcome. Precious, Tomika and Octavious performed well, especially for the second meet of the season. The plan is to get a little rest this week and prepare in depth for Kentucky and New York."
On Sunday, nearly a dozen Knights will represent UCF at the Gator Invite in Gainesville, Fla., at the Stephen C. O'Connell.