ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The outdoor season is off to a strong start for the UCF track and field team. The Knights picked up a trio of event titles and had at least one top 10 finish in each event on the final day of the Black and Gold Challenge.
The 4x100 relay of Loren Gallmon, Ciara Holback, Beyonce Defreitas and Shian Hyde picked up the first event title of the day as they cruised to a win in the 4x100 relay. The squad crossed the line in 44.61, which is the second-fastest mark in the country this outdoor campaign.
Gallmon added a second victory on the day, this time picking up the 400-meter dash title. Crossing the line in 54.83, the junior not only set a new personal record, she also posted the fastest outdoor 400m mark in the nation this season.
Devin D’Oliveira made the most of her outdoor debut. Not only did she win her first-ever 400-meter hurdles competition, her 1:00.10 time also landed her at the top of the national outdoor list in the event this season.
With competitors in 12 different events on Saturday, the Knights finished with at least one among the top 10 in each of those events.
Daneesha Davidson improved her mark in the triple jump by more than four inches, taking third place with a mark of 40-5.5/12.33m. A pair of Knights finished in the top five of the 200-meter dash, led by Hyde’s third place finish in 23.66. Ciara Holback improved her mark in the event, taking fifth in 23.87.
Soteria Russell earned a top five finish in her collegiate discus debut. She finished fourth with a throw of 139-11/42.65m. Jessica Dolan lowered her 3000m time by nearly 10 seconds, finishing 10th in 10:31.63.
The Knights are back in action next weekend, hosting the UCF Invitational March 22-23 at the UCF Track and Field Complex.
Saturday Results
4x100 Relay
1. Gallmon, Holbeck, Defreitas, Hyde 44.61
5. Williams, Gonzalez, Nelson, Wollaston 47.33
400 Dash
1. Loren Gallmon 54.83
6. Samieryah Bradwell 56.67
400m Hurdles
1. Devin D’Oliveira 1:00.10
5. Daneesha Davidson 1:02.31
4x800 Relay
2. Pinnell, Sanders, Soltis, Crook 9:07.10
Triple Jump
3. Daneesha Davidson 40-5.5/12.33m
6. Briana Potter 38-8.75/11.80m
200m
3. Shian Hyde 23.66
5. Ciara Holback 23.87
11. Beyonce Defreitas 24.43
15. Samieryah Bradwell 24.72
27. Breonna Graham 25.86
Discus
4. Soteria Russell 139-11/42.65m
11. Shanell Atkins 122-5/37.33m
100 Hurdles
6. Zharia Moore 13.90
28. Jayda Drake-Howard 16.74
100 Dash
6. Shaniya Williams 11.72
18. Asia Gonzalez 12.47
22. Breonna Graham 12.66
Shot Put
6. Jhane’ Carter 47-10.5/14.59m
8. Gabby Durant 43-10/13.36m
9. Soteria Russell 43-3.75/13.20m
4x400 Relay
8. Pinnell, Soltis, Crook, Sanders 3:59.68
3000m
10. Jessica Dolan 10:31.63