ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Track and field season has arrived as UCF heads to Clemson for the Orange and Purple Elite meet on Saturday.
The Knights look to build off the success they saw in year one of head coach Dana Boone's tenure. UCF improved both its indoor and outdoor conference championship finishes and sent the 4x1 relay to the NCAA Championships where the squad earned Second Team All-America honors with a 14th place performance.
"As a staff, we really wanted more," Boone said. "We had a good season, but we really wanted more. The focus this fall was to train and make sure that everybody understands what we're trying to accomplish. We are better prepared physically and mentally."
UCF returns nearly every all-conference performer from last season and all four members of its NCAA 4x1 squad. As the Knights head into year two under the staff, Coach Boone has liked what she's seen from her student-athletes during practices.
"I think their confidence is growing," Boone said. "They're a little more open to instruction. You see better attitude; you see better work ethic; you see a general confidence growing."
Eight freshmen are set to make their debuts this weekend. Ranging from the sprints to the throws to the jumps, UCF has added depth to their roster for 2020.
"I like that our freshman class has a little bit of confidence," Boone said. "They've kept the seniors on their toes. They've worked hard and they are training well, so it will be very interesting to see how they line up. They definitely came with a little bit of fire."
The Black and Gold open the Orange and Purple Elite at noon on Saturday with the weight throw. The track events begin at 12:30 p.m with the 60m hurdle prelims. The Knights will have competitors in the 60m hurdles, 60m, 200m, 300m, 400m, mile, 800m, 1000m, weight throw, shot put, triple jump and high jump.
A trio of Knights, Zharia Moore, Jayda Drake-Howard, Rayniah Jones, are slated to race in the 60m hurdled. Seven Knights - Asia Gonzalez, Ciara Holback, Shian Hyde, Kiara Lee, Shaniya Williams, Ashley Nelson and Imani Clark - will represent UCF in the 60m dash. Clark, Holback, Hyde and Williams will also compete in the 200m dash, while Lee will make her collegiate triple jump debut.
Loren Gallmon, Latasha Smith and Rayniah Jones will race in the 300m dash, while Beyonce Defreitas and Samieryah Bradwell will race in the 400m dash. UCF will have two competitors in the mile (Victoria Jung and Jamie Tomassetti) and a pair of Knights will make their track and field debuts in the 800m (Jewel Walters and Cydni Turner). Charlotte Crook, Katie Pinnell and Kaitlyn Soltis are slated to raced in the 1000m run.
Chloe Hill and Adrienne Adams debut for UCF in the weight throw, while Adams will also compete in the shot put. Kaliah Jones makes her collegiate debut in the high jump for the Knights.
A full schedule of events, along with heat sheets, can be found here. The Orange and Purple Elite will also feature live results.
