EUGENE, Ore. – As she walked up the sidewalk to meet her head coach, the tears filled Rayniah Jones' eyes. In her NCAA Outdoor Championship debut, the redshirt freshman raced her way onto the podium in the 100-meter hurdles in Hayward Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
LOOK AT THAT FINISH????@RayniahJones ???? #UCFast pic.twitter.com/M03YTvbvpr
— UCF Knights (@UCFKnights) June 12, 2021
The Miami, Fla., native crossed the line in 12.82 to finish as the national runner-up in the event. She edged Baylor's Ackera Nugent (12.84) for the silver medal.
The rookie earned First Team All-America honors and was the first Knight to earn the first team distinction since 2013. Jones, who bumped Jackie Coward from the UCF record board in the 100-meter hurdles on April 24, also took Coward's honor of the best hurdle finish at the NCAA outdoor championship. Coward finished third at the 2013 outdoor meet.
Jones is not the only All-American returning to Orlando for the Black and Gold.
Freshman Asherah Collins picked up honorable mention All-America honors and posted UCF's best triple jump finish at the outdoor meet as she finished 23rd overall. The Lake City, Fla., native jumped 42-0.5/12.81m at her first NCAA outdoor championship.
Asherah earned All-America honors with our best #NCAATF triple jump performance!#ChargeOn pic.twitter.com/rGH0PknJnc
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) June 12, 2021
UCF tied for 33rd in the team standings with eight points.
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