BIRMINGHAM – Six event titles propelled the UCF track and field team to the 2022 American Athletic Conference indoor title on Saturday at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Rayniah Jones collected a trio of gold medals, sweeping the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash, to rack up 30 points for the Knights on her way to the women's Most Valuable Performer honor. Dana Boone and her staff earned their first women's Coaching Staff of the Year trophy as the women's team champion.
Your most valuable performer is none other than Rayniah Jones! pic.twitter.com/BmWWuo1UYc
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) February 26, 2022
Latasha Smith picked up the first event title of the day, running a UCF and American meet record 52.32 to win the 400-meter dash.
Jones' first event title came in the 60-meter hurdles where she won in 7.90. She not only shattered her school and meet records in the event, she posted the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season. She turned around just 20 minutes later and won the 60-meter dash in 7.31. Jones had a longer break before heading back out on the track to complete the sweep with a personal best 23.35 to win the 200-meter dash.
Asherah Collins, the 2021 outdoor triple jump champion, broke the freshman record on her way to the indoor triple jump title. Her 43-1.75/13.15m put her at the top of the podium in Birmingham.
The 4x4 relay closed out the meet with the seventh gold medal of the weekend as Latasha Smith, Kiah Williams, Danielle Bess, Samieryah Bradwell posted a 3:38.92 to win the relay.
In addition to its seven gold medals on Saturday, UCF added six more podium finishes. Ciara Holback joined Jones on the podium, taking second in the 60m in 7.41. Beyonce Defreitas added silver in the 200-meter dash in a personal best 23.65. Kaylor Harris added a bronze for the Knights in the 60-meter hurdles.
Charlotte Crook and Katie Pinnell gave UCF a pair on the podium in the 800-meter run. Crook matched her personal best 2:09.02 for second and Pinnell ran 2:09.66 for third. Kaliah Jones cleared a personal best 5-7.25/1.71m to finish third in the high jump.
UCF brought home its first American title since the 2017 season, scoring a meet record 156.5 points on the way to victory.
Team Standings
1. UCF 156.5
2. Cincinnati 115
3. Tulsa 73
4. Houston 65
5. SMU 50
6. South Florida 41
7. ECU 38
8. Tulane 36
9. Memphis 35
10. Wichita State 31.5
11. Temple 22
UCF Results
60m
1. Rayniah Jones 7.31
2. Ciara Holback 7.41
6. I'Asia Wilson 7.48
200m
1. Rayniah Jones 23.35
2. Beyonce Defreitas 23.65
5. Danielle Bess 24.06
8. Ciara Holback 25.45
60H
1. Rayniah Jones 7.90
3. Kaylor Harris 8.33
400m
1. Latasha Smith 52.32
5. Danielle Bess 54.33
7. Samieryah Bradwell 55.26
4x4
1. Latasha Smith, Kiah Williams, Danielle Bess, Samieryah Bradwell 3:38.92
Triple Jump
1. Asherah Collins 13.15m
4. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo 12.95m
7. Kiara Lee 12.56m
9. Natalia Madison 12.17m
800m
2. Charlotte Crook 2:09.02
3. Katie Pinnell 2:09.66
High Jump
3. Kaliah Jones 1.71m
T5. Natalia Madison 1.66m
7. Brittany Floyd 1.66m
18. Holly Cassels 1.56m
Mile
10. Valerie Lastra 4:56.24
12. Mariana Rodriguez 5:08.41
3000m
22. Camryn Williams 10:02.07
38. Valerie Lastra 10:17.39
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