May 29, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com
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NCAA East Preliminary
Jacksonville, Fla. - Hodges Stadium
Saturday, May 30
- 1:30 p.m. - Hammer Throw%
- 6:00 p.m. - 4x100 Relay Quarterfinals%
- 7:35 p.m. - 200 Meters Quarterfinals%
- 9:25 p.m. - 4x400 Relay Quarterfinals%
# - Top 24 advance to NCAA East Prelim Quarterfinals
% - Top 12 advance to NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Jun. 10-13
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- For the seventh straight year the UCF track and field team will be represented at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, as sophomore J'Nea Bellamy punched a ticket to Eugene, Oregon in the 100 meter dash at the NCAA East Region Prelims on Friday.
Bellamy competed at the NCAA Championships as a freshman as a member of the Knights' 4x100 meter relay team, but this marks the first time she'll be participating as an individual at the highest level in collegiate track and field.
The Miami native came out of Thursday's first round with the 14th fastest time and knew she had to make the top 12 on Friday to advance to nationals. She ran in the first of three heats, placing fourth with a time of 11.54 seconds.
The top three in each section automatically qualify, with the next three fastest times earning berths, so Bellamy had to wait and see how the other two heats played out. In the end, she had the 11th fastest time, earning her spot in the next round.
"Well it was pretty exciting," Bellamy said after qualifying on Friday. "It was a close race and it came down to the last heat, so I'm just glad I made it and I'm ready to go to nationals.
"My blocks have been a problem for me this whole season, but my finish was a lot stronger," Bellamy went on to say about her race. "I held off the girl next to me and that is what I think carried me on. If I hadn't beat her I probably wouldn't have made it."
Junior Briana Vaughn just missed out on advancing in the 100 meters, crossing the line in 11.64 seconds to place fifth in the second heat. She was 19th overall and was just one-tenth of a second off of the qualifying time.
In the Knights' final event of the night, Bellamy and Vaughn were at it again as both earned a spot in Saturday's 200 meter dash quarterfinals. Bellamy placed third in her section in a time of 23.46 seconds to earn an automatic spot in the next round, while Vaughn advanced on time with a 23.65 to take fourth in her heat.
Freshman Johna' Whitaker got her first taste of regional competition on Friday, taking part in the first round of the 100 meter hurdles. She placed seventh in her heat with a time of 13.65 seconds.
Senior Sandy Jean rounded out the Knights' competitors on day two at the NCAA East Prelims. The Miami native placed eighth in her heat of the 400 meter hurdle quarterfinals, failing to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships. Jean will be back on Saturday as a part of the Knights' 4x400 meter relay team.
Both UCF relays will highlight the squad's final day in Jacksonville. The 4x100 relay starts things off on the track at 6 p.m., the 200 meter quarterfinals -- featuring Bellamy and Vaughn are scheduled for 7:35 p.m. -- and the 4x400 caps things off at 9:25 p.m. Kalen Hambrick gets things going with the hammer throw at 1:30 p.m.
UCF Results
100 Meter Hurdles -- First Round
36. Johna' Whitaker 13.65 (+1.0) -- Heat 2 (7th)
100 Meters -- Quarterfinals
11. J'Nea Bellamy (q) 11.54 (+1.4) -- Heat 1 (4th)
19. Briana Vaughn 11.64 (-1.4) -- Heat 2 (5th)
400 Meter Hurdles -- Quarterfinals
22. Sandy Jean 1:00.29 -- Heat 2 (8th)
200 Meters -- First Round
13. J'Nea Bellamy 23.46 (+1.3) -- Heat 5 (3rd)
21. Briana Vaughn 23.65 (+0.5) -- Heat 4 (4th)
NCAA East Prelims 2 - Images by UCF Knights