CLEMSON, S.C. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF track and field team posted a strong showing at the Orange and Purple Elite, its first indoor meet of the season, on Saturday.
"Today was the start of our indoor season, but by no means is it the end," UCF head coach Dana Boone said. "We had some really good performances and some really solid performances as well. We definitely have some work to do and some adjustments to make, but overall, it was a solid start. We are looking forward to getting back to training next week so we can fine tune some things."
Shian Hyde highlighted the day for the sprinters, starting with a qualifying mark in the 60-meter dash prelims. The senior then posted a personal best in the 60m finals, crossing the line seventh in 7.40, which ties her for eighth on the UCF all-time performers list.
Hyde closed out her day with a dominant performance in the 200-meter dash. Her personal-best time of 23.37 gave her second overall and she was the top collegiate finisher. The mark also put Hyde fourth on the all-time performers list.
Ciara Holback matched her personal best time of 23.95 to join Hyde as a top five finisher in the 200m. Samieryah Bradwell dropped more than a second off her personal best 400-meter dash time, finishing fifth overall in 57.37.
Victoria Jung finished third overall in the mile with a time of 5:03.00. Kaitlyn Soltis ran a personal-best 2:59.81 to finish 10th in the 1000-meter run, while Loren Gallmon finished 10th in the 300m dash with a time of 39.58.
Eleven Knights made their UCF indoor debuts on Saturday, with eight posting top 10 finishes in their respective events.
In her debut, Kiara Lee posted a sixth-place triple jump performance. She landed at 39-10.75/12.16m, which ranks seventh on the UCF all-time performers list.
Beyonce Defreitas, who was strong for the Knights during outdoor in 2019, made her indoor debut in the 400m, joining Bradwell in the top 10 as she finished sixth in 58.19.
Jamie Tomassetti carried her freshman cross country success into her rookie indoor opener, finishing eighth in the mile with a time of 5:21.52. Chloe Hill and Adrienne Adams posted top 10 finishes in the weight throw, with Hill finishing in the top five in her first collegiate meet. In the 800, Cydni Turner and Jewel Walters both finished in the top five in their track debuts. Kaliah Jones made her Black and Gold debut, finishing ninth in the high jump at 5-1/1.55m.
UCF returns to action at the two-day Rod McCravy Invitational, hosted by Kentucky Jan. 24-25.
UCF Results
60m - Finals
7. Shian Hyde 7.40
60m – Prelims
7. Shian Hyde 7.45
9. Ciara Holback 7.48
14. Shaniya Williams 7.70
19. Asia Gonzalez 7.88
24. Ashley Nelson 8.01
26. Kiara Lee 8.11
200m
2. Shian Hyde 23.37
4. Ciara Holback 23.95
7. Shaniya Williams 24.58
300m
10. Loren Gallmon 39.58
11. Latasha Smith 39.65
20. Rayniah Jones 42.00
400m
5. Samieryah Bradwell 57.37
6. Beyonce Defreitas 58.19
800m
2. Cydni Turner 2:19.70
4. Jewel Walters 2:23.69
1000m
10. Kaitlyn Soltis 2:59.81
15. Charlotte Crook 3:02.35
Mile
3. Victoria Jung 5:03.00
8. Jamie Tomassetti 5:21.52
60M Hurdles
12. Rayniah Jones 8.65
17. Zharia Moore 8.85
22. Jayda Drake-Howard 9.32
High Jump
9. Kaliah Jones 5-1/1.55m
Triple Jump
6. Kiara Lee 39-10.75/12.16m
Weight Throw
5. Chloe Hill 51-5/15.67m
6. Adrienne Adams 51-1/15.57m
