May 30, 2015
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Dan Forcella
UCFKnights.com
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- The Knights were listening intently to the public address announcer at Hodges Stadium following the 4x100 meter relay, waiting to hear if "University of Central Florida" would be called over the loud speaker as one of the 12 teams moving on to the NCAA Championships.
Following a hand-off issue between the second and third leg, junior Briana Vaughn took the baton from sophomore J'Nea Bellamy and passed three teams as she anchored the Knights to a fifth place finish with a time of 44.41 seconds in the first of three sections.
With the top three in each heat advancing automatically, and only three more earning a spot based on time, the team of Vaughn, Bellamy, senior Kirsten Nieuwendam and junior Christal Peterson knew it was going to be tough.
Once Alabama's fourth place finish in heat two popped up on the scoreboard as 44.35 seconds, passing the Knights, UCF could afford only three teams in the final section to run faster than its time of 44.41. Fourth place in that final heat was Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish came in at 44.51 seconds and the Knights earned the 12th and final berth the nationals.
"We were really excited for the race and we're really excited that we made it," Vaughn said. "There were a few slip-ups so we are really glad we get another chance to come back and prove that we can hang with everybody.
"When I got the baton I just gave it all that I had and ran it like it was my last race," Vaughn went on to say. "We made it through [to the NCAA Championships] so I'm really happy."
Vaughn and Bellamy weren't done after the relay though. The two sprinters then began preparing for the 200 meter dash quarterfinals. Both in the same heat, Bellamy raced to a 23.28 second finish to take fifth, while Vaughn crossed the line in 23.48 seconds to take seventh.
Bellamy once again found herself in a spot where she needed help. Going into the third and final section -- like her relay team before her -- she would advance if only three had faster times than her. Fourth place in the third heat was 23.37 seconds, just nine hundredths of a second slower than Bellamy.
The Miami native, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 meters on Friday, added the 200 to her agenda in Eugene by earning the 12th and final berth to nationals.
"I did enough to make it to nationals," Bellamy said. "It was exciting because I just made the mark. I can't go wrong with 12th. It's better than 13th. I just have to continue to work hard right before nationals and get better with each race."
Saturday began in the field with junior Kalen Hambrick in the hammer throw. She had the best mark in the first flight, recording a personal best of 57.17 meters, topping her previous best of 56.67 meters. After flights two and three finished up, of which all 32 competitors were seeded higher than Hambrick, the junior placed 14th overall. She was just two spots away from qualifying for nationals.
The night ended as it always does, with the 4x400 meter relay. The Knights ran in the first of three sections, and breezed to a new school record time of 3:32.59. However, that wasn't enough for the team of Sandy Jean, Nieuwendam, Terika Henry and Ashley Jocelyn in the stacked field on Saturday.
The Knights placed fifth in their heat -- and where the 4x100 relay and Bellamy were on the right side of the equation at the end of the day -- the 4x400 team was not so lucky. UCF ended up 13th, missing out on a spot at nationals by just nine hundredths of a second.
Bellamy, Vaughn, Peterson and Nieuwendam will head to Eugene for the NCAA Championships to take part in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash and the 4x100 meter relay. The meet is scheduled for June 10-13 at the University of Oregon.
UCF Results
Hammer Throw -- First Round
14. Kalen Hambrick 57.17m -- Flight 1 (1st)
4x100 Meter Relay -- Quarterfinals
12. UCF (q) 44.41 -- Heat 1 (5th)
Kirsten Nieuwendam, Christal Peterson, J'Nea Bellamy, Briana Vaughn
200 Meters -- Quarterfinals
12. J'Nea Bellamy (q) 23.28 (+2.0) -- Heat 2 (5th)
18. Briana Vaughn 23.48 (+2.0) -- Heat 2 (7th)
4x400 Meter Relay -- Quarterfinals
14. UCF 3:32.22 -- Heat 1 (5th)
Sandy Jean, Kirsten Nieuwendam, Terika Henry, Ashley Jocelyn