COLLEGE STATION, Texas (UCFKnights.com) – An event title and a freshman record highlighted the UCF track and field team's performance at the Charlie Thomas Invitational in Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium on Saturday.
Ciara Holback opened the day with the top time in the prelims of the 60-meter dash, winning her heat with a time of 7.45 to advance to the finals. She was joined by Imani Clark, who posted the seventh-fastest prelim time in her indoor debut.
In the finals, Holback was among the leaders of the pack before making a push at the end to edge Houston's Tristan Evelyn and South Plains' Rosemary Chuckwuma. The Jacksonville native blazed to the event title with a personal best time of 7.34, which moved her to fourth on UCF's all-time performers list.
On her second trip down the runway in the triple jump, Kiara Lee landed at 40-feet, 2-inches (12.24m). Not only was the mark a personal best for the Madison, Wisc., native, she also matched the freshman triple jump record, set by LaTrica Firby in 2000. She moved up to seventh on UCF's all-time performers list.
Each time Rayniah Jones has lined up for the 60-meter hurdles, the freshman has improved her time in the event. Saturday was no different as the Miami native qualified for the finals with a then-personal best time of 8.52. Jumping the final hurdle in the finals, Jones made a final push, shaving nearly a tenth of a second off her prelim time to finish fifth overall in 8.43. The rookie is now tied with teammate Zharia Moore for eighth on UCF's all-time performers list.
At least one Knight in each of the track events on Saturday posted a personal best time.
Loren Gallmon led five Knights in the top 10 of the 200-meter dash. In a photo-finish heat, Gallmon crossed the line in 23.98 for fourth overall.
Cydni Turner led the Black and Gold in the 800-meter run, posting personal best time of 2:16.07 to finish 10th overall. Victoria Jung posted the first sub-five minute mile of her collegiate career. Her personal best 4:58.76 was the 11th-fastest mark of the day and moved her into fourth on UCF's all-time performers list. Latasha Smith improved her 400-meter dash time by three-tenths of a second, crossing in 56.51 to win her heat and finish 11th overall.
UCF's 4x4 relay squad of Beyonce Defreitas, Shian Hyde, Samieryah Bradwell and Latasha Smith posted a season-best time of 3:45.49 to close out the day with a fifth place finish.
UCF is back in action next weekend, heading to Clemson for the Tiger Paw Invite Feb. 14-15.
UCF Results
60m Hurdles - Prelims
6. Rayniah Jones 8.52
18. Jayda Drake-Howard 9.22
60m Hurdles – Finals
5. Rayniah Jones 8.43
60m – Prelims
1. Ciara Holback 7.45
7. Imani Clark 7.58
14. Rayniah Jones 7.69
17. Loren Gallmon 7.70
22. Ani Wells 7.73
23. Shaniya Williams 7.73
28. Asia Gonzalez 7.84
35. Jayda Drake-Howard 7.91
42. Kiara Lee 8.17
60m – Finals
1. Ciara Holback 7.34
5. Imani Clark 7.51
200m
4. Loren Gallmon 23.98 (23.976)
5. Imani Clark 23.98 (23.980)
6. Shian Hyde 24.03
7. Ciara Holback 24.04
10. Beyonce Defreitas 24.27
Triple Jump
5. Kiara Lee 40-2/12.24m
4x4 Relay
5. Beyonce Defreitas, Shian Hyde, Samieryah Bradwell, Latasha Smith 3:45.49
13. Katie Pinnell, Cydni Turner, Kaitlyn Soltis, Victoria Jung 4:00.88
800m
10. Cydni Turner 2:16.07
16. Katie Pinnell 2:17.31
17. Kaitlyn Soltis 2:17.38
Mile
11. Victoria Jung 4:58.76
400m
11. Latasha Smith 56.51
Shot Put
11. Chloe Hill 50-0.5/15.25m
14. Adrienne Adams 48-5.5/14.77m
