ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF track and field team closes out the indoor portion of its season in the same place in which it opened the 2017 campaign – the Birmingham Crossplex. The Knights head to Alabama for the American Athletic Conference Championship Feb. 24-25.
The two-day indoor championship begin Friday at 10 a.m. ET with the women's pentathlon. The track events get underway at 1:15 p.m. ET with the mile run, while field event begins at 3 p.m. with pole vault.
A trio of Knights enter the meet as the favorites in four different events. Anne-Marie Blaney, who set three school records in three different events this season, holds the conference's best mark in the 3000-meter run and the 5000-meter run. Blaney earned The American Indoor Female Track Athlete of the Week three times this season.
J'Nea Bellamy has the best time in the 60 meter dash, and Rosie Chamberlain, who enters the championship after setting the UCF record in the 800-meter run, enters the indoor championship as the favorite in the event.
Four Knights hold top 10 marks in the weight throw this season. Chelsea Gobourne, who earned The American Indoor Female Field Athlete of the Week after a career-best performance at the season opening meet on Jan. 13, has the third-best distance in the weight throw.
The Knights finished third at last year's championship, winning four individual events and earning eight spots on the podium. Anne-Marie Blaney won her second consecutive title in the 5000-meter run. J'Nea Bellamy and Rosie Chamberlain collected titles in the 60-meter dash and the 800-meter run, respectively. The 4x400 meter relay team earned the fourth title for the Black and Gold.
UCF's last indoor title came in 2013 after accumulating 132.5 points at the C-USA Indoor Championships, which was also held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Schedule of Events
Friday
10:00 a.m. ET – Pentathlon begins
1:15 p.m. ET – Mile Trials
1:45 p.m. ET – 400m Trials
2:35 p.m. ET – 60m Hurdles Trials
2:55 p.m. ET – 60m Trials
3:00 p.m. ET – Pole Vault Trials and Finals
3:30 p.m. ET – 800m Trials
4:00 p.m. ET – 200m Trials
4:30 p.m. ET – Long Jump Trials and Finals
5:15 p.m. ET – 5000m Finals
5:15 p.m. ET – Weight Throw Trials and Finals
6:00 p.m. ET – Distance Medley Relay
Saturday
10:45 a.m. ET – High Jump Trials and Finals
12:15 p.m. ET – Mile Run Finals
12:35 p.m. ET – 400m Finals
1:10 p.m. ET – 60m Hurdles Finals
1:30 p.m. ET – 60m Finals
1:30 p.m. ET – Triple Jump Trials and Finals
1:30 p.m. ET – Shot Put Trials and Finals
2:00 p.m. ET – 800m Finals
2:20 p.m. ET – 200m Finals
3:10 p.m. ET – 3000m Finals
3:40 p.m. ET – 4x400 Relay Finals
4:15 p.m. ET – Awards Ceremony