BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – The UCF track and field team closed out the NCAA East Preliminary Round in solid fashion, as the Knights qualified for the semifinals in four events on Saturday at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
"This has been a great step forward for this program," UCF head coach Dana Boone said. "We had a very good weekend this weekend. In my time here, this is the largest number of people that we've qualified for the NCAA Championships. I'm very pleased with this team for having a great season this far."
In all, UCF has qualified for five events at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Oregon, matching the highest number of events in which UCF has sent competitors to the final site.
A pair of Knights are making the return trip to Hayward Field for the second straight year.
Rayniah Jones, the 2021 national runner-up, punched her return ticket to Eugene by finishing second in her heat to advance to the 100-meter hurdles semifinal.
Asherah Collins saved her best for last, as her final attempt in the triple jump moved her into the top 12. Her 42-4.25/12.91m sends her back to Eugene for the second straight season.
Adrienne Adams became the first Knight of the day to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championship meet. Her final discus throw 175-7/53.53m moved her into the top five after her flight and she finished eighth overall to qualify for the semifinal in Eugene. She is the first Knight since 2009 to advance to the NCAA Championship in the discus.
UCF's 4x1 relay quad is headed back to the NCAA Championship for the third time since 2017. Rayniah Jones, Ciara Holback, Beyonce Defreitas and I'Asia Wilson ran a season-best 43.48 to advance to Eugene.
The Knights had already qualified a Knight to the final site entering the East Preliminary weekend. Brittany Floyd became the first Knight to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship in the heptathlon. She ranks 22nd in the multi-event and the top 24 decathlon and heptathlon scores in the nation automatically advance to Eugene.
Natalia Madison closed out her freshman campaign with a tie for 31st in the high jump, clearing 5-7.25/1.71m. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo finished 34th in the triple jump with a mark of 40-5.5/12.33m. Ciara Holback finished 19th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.50. Selena Wright narrowly missed the top 12 in the 400-meter hurdles as her 58.03 was 13th overall.
The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships run June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon. The women's events begin June 9, with the heptathlon opening June 10.
UCF Results
100H
5. Rayniah Jones 13.14Q
4x1 Relay
7. Rayniah Jones, Ciara Holback, Beyonce Defreitas, I'Asia Wilson 43.48q
Discus
8. Adrienne Adams 175-7/53.53mq
Triple Jump
11. Asherah Collins 42-4.25/12.91mq
34. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo 40-5.5/12.33m
400H
13. Selena Wright 58.24
100m
19. Ciara Holback 11.50
