HOUSTON, Texas (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF track and field team picked up a pair of medals during the opening day of the 2017 American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships at the Carl Lewis International Complex on Friday.
Chelsea Gobourne collected UCF's first medal of the weekend, and her second overall in the hammer throw. Her second throw of the day landed at 195-0/59.45m, sending her to the finals and proving to be enough for a second place finish. Gobourne finished third in the event at the 2016 championship. Since joining The American prior to the 2013-14 campaign, at least one Knight has finished in the top three in the hammer throw.
Anne-Marie Blaney closed out the opening day with a second place finish in the 10,000-meter run. She crossed the line in 34:31.42, adding eight points to UCF's team total. Blaney picked up her third career medal in the event after taking the top honors in 2014 and 2016.
Gabby Durant added three points to the UCF score with a sixth place finish in the hammer throw.
The Knights have the edge in the team standings after the first day of action with 19 points. UConn is in second with 14 points, followed by Houston (11) and Cincinnati (10).
A pair of Knights, Rosie Chamberlain and Crystal Tejeda, advanced to Sunday's final in the 800-meter run. Chamberlain will look to defend her title in the event, while the freshman Tejeda will make her first finals appearance.
In the 200-meter dash, SheKara Martin finished second in her heat with a qualifying time of 23.92 to advance to Sunday's finals. Martin will make her second straight appearance in the 200-meter finals after finishing fourth at the 2016 conference meet.
Ebony Crear won the opening heat of the 400-meter hurdles and will race on Sunday in the finals. Her 1:00.01 mark was the third-fastest of the day.
Saturday action begins at 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET with the women's shot put. The running events begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. ET with the preliminaries for the women's 100-meter hurdles.
Results
Hammer Throw
2. Chelsea Gobourne 195-0/59.45m
6. Gabby Durant 180-8/55.06m
11. Tayla Greene 171-09/52.34m
12. Jhane' Carter 167-05/51.03m
10,000M
2. Anne-Marie Blaney 34:31.42
Advancing To Sunday
800M
2. Rosie Chamberlain 2:08.99Q
8. Crystal Tejeda 2:11.56q
200M
7. SheKara Martin 23.92q
400H
1. Ebony Crear 1:00.01Q
