BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF opened the 2017 indoor season with a strong showing, garnering 11 top-five finishes at the UAB Blazer Invite inside the Birmingham Crossplex.
Senior J'Nea Bellamy took the title in the 60-meter dash with a winning time of 7.47. The Miami, Fla., native also posted the fastest time in preliminaries, winning her heat in 7.50. Redshirt senior Ashley Jocelyn joined Bellamy in the top five with a career-best time of 7.64 in the finals.
Sophomore Briana Potter turned in a career-mark in the triple jump to finish fifth in the final standings. The Lake Mary, Fla., native posted a final mark of 38-04.00/11.68m.
A career-best 65-01.25/19.84m distance from Chelsea Gobourne gave the senior a second place finish in the weight throw. She finished just ahead of senior teammate Tayla Greene, who finished third with a 61-02.75/18.66m throw.
Redshirt junior Johna' Whitaker was just shy of her indoor-best time in the 60-meter hurdles prelims, advancing to the finals with a time of 8.62. She posted the sixth-best time in the finals at 8.65. Junior Ebony Crear, competing for the first time as a Knight, just missed the cut to advance to the finals in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.70.
Three Knights collected top 10 finishes in the mile run. Redshirt junior Marissa Codispodi finished second in the event with a time of 5:07.55. Freshman Tori Jung made her UCF track debut with a third place finish in a time of 5:08.01. Fellow rookie Brittany Gill earned a ninth place finish with a time of 5:15.01.
The Black and Gold scattered themselves among the top 11 finishers in the 300-meter dash. Ashley Jocelyn earned her second top-five finish of the day as her time of 38.72 gave her second place. Senior SheKara Martin finished seventh with a time of 39.93. Freshman Venida Fagan made her debut as a Knight, finishing 10th with a time of 40.56. Ebony Crear finished just behind her with a time of 40.58.
Senior Kayla Pritchett finished 12th in the high jump with a career-best height. The Atlanta, Ga., native and freshman Natosha Jordan, who made her UCF debut, both cleared 5-02.50/1.59m to share 12th place.
Redshirt sophomore Jhane' Carter finished second in the shot put. The Titusville, Fla., native's fifth throw went a distance of 49-06.5/15.10m.
A trio of Knights posted top 10 finishes in the 600-meter run, led by junior Rosie Chamberlain. The Exeter, England, native crossed the line in 1:29.57 to finish second. Freshman Shiree Hinds and junior Crystal Tejeda, both making their first appearance for UCF, finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Hinds posted a time of 1:36.75, while Tejeda finished with a time of 1:37.22.
The 4x400 meter relay rounded out the day. UCF finished third with a time of 3:53.63. The Knights "B" squad finished eighth with a time of 3:59.14.
NEXT UP
The Knights return to action next weekend as they travel to the Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, Ky., for a two-day competition Jan. 20-21.
UCF Results
60 Meter Dash
Prelim
Heat 1
1. J'Nea Bellamy 7.50q
Heat 2
2. Johna' Whitaker 7.88
Heat 4
2. Ashley Jocelyn 7.69q
Finals
1. J'Nea Bellamy 7.47
4. Ashley Jocelyn 7.64
60 Meter Hurdles
Prelim
Heat 3
2. Johna' Whitaker 8.62q
Heat 4
3. Ebony Crear 8.70
7. Kayla Pritchett 10.05
Finals
6. Johna' Whitaker 8.65
300 Meter Dash
2. Ashley Jocelyn 38.72
7. SheKara Martin 39.93
10. Venida Fagan 40.56
11. Ebony Crear 40.58
Mile
2. Marissa Codispodi 5:07.55
3. Tori Jung 5:08.01
9. Brittany Gill 5:15.01
12. Laura Korsmit 5:17.01
600 Meter Run
2. Rosie Chamberlain 1:29.57
8. Shiree Hinds 1:36.75
9. Crystal Tejeda 1:37.22
4X400 Meter Relay
3. UCF 3:53.63
8. UCF "B" 3:59.14
Weight Throw
2. Chelsea Gobourne 65-01.25/19.84m
3. Tayla Greene 61-02.75/18.66m
8. Jhane' Carter 57-04.75/17.49m
9. Gabby Durant 57-00.25/17.38m
Shot Put
2. Jhane' Carter 49-06.5/15.10m
Triple Jump
5. Briana Potter 38-04.00/11.68m
High Jump
12. Kayla Pritchett 5-02.50/1.59m
12. Natosha Jordan 5-02.50/1.59m
Long Jump
19. Briana Potter 16-04.50/4.99m
20. Kayla Pritchett 15-09.75/4.82m
22. Na'Kiya Russell 15-02.75/4.64m
