ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF track and field team concluded its opening weekend of the outdoor season with another strong showing at the Black and Gold Challenge at the UCF Track and Field Complex.
The Knights collected 15 top 10 finishes on Saturday, bringing their weekend total to 25 in the first outdoor meet of the 2018 campaign.
Natosha Jordan highlighted the day for the Black and Gold in the high jump. After easily clearing 5-4.25, she raised the bar to a new collegiate personal best - 5-6 - and cleared that on her first attempt. The bar was again raised to a new PR - 5-8. On her third attempt, she cleared it for the win and a new personal best. Her mark is tied for the ninth-best in the country in the outdoor high jump this season.
Beth Williams turned in a third place finish in the 1,500-meter run, crossing the line in 4:42.15. She was just four seconds shy of Anne-Marie Blaney's freshman record in the event. Teammate Crystal Tejeda joined Williams in the top 10, finishing eighth with a time of 4:45.35.
In the 400-meter hurdles, Ebony Crear took third with a time of 1:02.58.
Three Knights placed in the top 10 in the shot put. Shanell Atkins used a 14.66m/48-1.25 throw to lead the Black and Gold with a fourth place finish. In just her second collegiate event, Courtney Morgan finished eighth with a toss of 13.90m/45-7.25. Jhane' Carter came in just behind her, with a distance of 13.78m/45-2.5.
Building on a solid indoor campaign, Shaniya Williams made her 100-meter dash debut, taking fifth with a time of 11.89. She was also the second leg of the 4x100 relay, joining Sarah Wollaston, Ciara Holback and Alissa Williams for a fifth place finish in 45.17.
All three of UCF's 800-meter runners placed in the top 10, led by Marissa Codispodi's sixth place time of 2:17.80. Katy Soltis (2:18.73) and Shiree Hinds (2:21.74) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
Both of UCF's 4x400 relay squads finished in the top 10. The quartet of Ebony Crear, Loren Gallmon, Daneesha Davidson and Rosie Chamberlain took seventh with a time of 3:50.46. Crystal Tejeda, Beth Williams, Katy Soltis and Marissa Codispodi finished 10th in 4:00.51.
Johna' Whitaker picked up a 10th place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 14.55.
The Knights will return to action on March 22, heading to the two-day USF Invitational in Tampa.
UCF Results
High Jump
1. Natosha Jordan 1.73m/5-8
T14. Kebreyona Acker 1.58m/5-2.25
1500m
3. Beth Williams 4:42.15
8. Crystal Tejeda 4:45.35
14. Kalleigh Forrester 4:52.45
400m Hurdles
3. Ebony Crear 1:02.58
19. Janel Bates 1:14.74
Shot Put
4. Shanell Atkins 14.66m/48-1.25
8. Courtney Morgan 13.90m/45-7.25
9. Jhane' Carter 13.78m/45-2.5
19. Gabby Durant 12.57m/41-3
100m
5. Shaniya Williams 11.89
16. Ciara Holback 12.22
24. Sarah Wollaston 12.35
25. Loren Gallmon 12.36
33. Asia Gonzalez 12.73
4x100 Relay
5. Sarah Wollaston, Shaniya Williams, Ciara Holback, Alissa Williams 45.17
800m
6. Marissa Codispodi 2:17.80
7. Katy Soltis 2:18.73
8. Shiree Hinds 2:21.74
4x400 Relay
7. Ebony Crear, Loren Gallmon, Daneesha Davidson, Rosie Chamberlain 3:50.46
10. Crystal Tejeda, Beth Williams, Katy Soltis, Marissa Codispodi 4:00.51
100m Hurdles
10. Johna' Whitaker 14.55
15. Natosha Jordan 14.65
18. Aria Tate 14.75
3000m
11. Brittany Gill 12:10.44
400m
12. Rosie Chamberlain 56.44
24. Daneesha Davidson 58.59
32. Tyra Johnson 1:02.73
Discus
13. Courtney Morgan 42.49m/139-5
28. Shanell Atkins 33.50m/109-11
Long Jump
23. Briana Potter 4.87m/15-11.75
28. Keausha Bradley-Macklin 4.69m/15-4.75
200m
25. Ciara Holback 24.74
27. Loren Gallmon 24.81
30. Shaniya Williams 24.97
31. Sarah Wollaston 25.01
38. Aria Tate 25.36
52. Asia Gonzalez 26.25
58. Ashley Nelson 26.80
63. Tyra Johnson 27.55
66. Stephanie Pile 28.90