Orlando – The UCF track and field team opened up the 2023 campaign in dominating fashion at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational, with Rayniah Jones and Asherah Collins picking up right where they left off, winning three events. Both were honored with the American Athletic Conference Track and Field Athletes of the Week, sweeping the awards.
Jones garnered three Track Athlete of the Week Awards in 2022, and now just one meet-in, she picks up her fourth career honor. Following a trip to the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships last season, Jones returned to the indoor track in a fitting fashion.
The All-American took home two events in Gainesville, the first time in her collegiate indoor career she's accomplished the feat during the regular season. After winning the 60-meter hurdles prelims with a time of 8.29, Jones improved her time in the finals, defeating the field with her 8.21 mark. Following her anticipated return to the hurdles event, she also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.49.
Collins took home her first career indoor AAC Field Athlete of the Week honor after she won the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.94m (42' 5 ½"). The jump was her highest opening meet mark, topping her previous high set at the H-Town SpeedCity Series ll in 2021.
The duo will return to the track this week, with Jones heading to the Red Raider Open at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas on Friday, while Collins will compete at the Vanderbilt Open in Nashville, Tenn.
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