ORLANDO – The UCF track and field team will split up this weekend, traveling to Texas Tech for the Red Raider Open and Vanderbilt University for the Vanderbilt Invitational. Sprints will make the journey to Lubbock, Texas, as Kaylor Harris returns to The Sports Performance Center for the first time since transferring to UCF last season. Field and distance will head to Nashville, Tenn., the first time the Knights will make the trip since their 2017 AAC Indoor Championship season.
EARLY SEASON SWEEP
Following the Knights impressive return at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational last weekend in which 10 Knights set new PRs, along with seven taking home first place in their respective events, the Black and Gold swept the AAC weekly honors. Rayniah Jones took home her fourth career indoor AAC Track Athlete of the Week after a dominating performance in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash. Asherah Collins garnered her first career indoor Field Athlete of the Week after her career-best opening triple jump (12.94, 42' 5 ½"), the best mark in The American and eighth best in the nation following the opening weekend.
Jones will return to the track on Friday, with sights set on improving her already impressive 8.21 mark in hurdles, along with her 24.49 time in the 200-meter dash. The two first-place amrks gave the All-American her first double in her regular season indoor career. Collins will compete in the long jump on Friday at Vanderbilt, before her second triple jump event of the season on Saturday.
VANDERBILT INVITE PREVIEW
Six of the 11 Knights who set PRs in Gainesville will make the journey to Vanderbilt for the two-day meet. The freshman shined with distance last weekend, with three newcomers setting new personal bests. Kendall Hughes, off the heels of an impressive cross-country season, finished second in the 200m dash, setting her PR with a time of 2:15.29. Paige and Riley Jaszczak set their PRs in the mile, along with Rachel Wheatley who finished third in the event.
Holly Cassels and Natalia Madison, fresh off their new PRs in the long jump/60-meter hurdles and the high jump, will compete in their first pentathlons of the season at 9:30 am on Friday.
RED RAIDER OPEN PREVIEW
Coach Boone will travel out to the program's future conference opponent with the sprints squads. While the event begins at 10 a.m., UCF will begin running at 11:40 am with the 60-meter dash prelims. The meet will come to an end with the 4x400 relay at 4:25. Last weekend, the Knights took the top three spots in the 60-meter hurdles while newcomers Daija Lampkin and Janyah Jasper finished one and two in the 60-meter dash with. Along with the two 60-meter events and the 4x400 relay, the Black and Gold will also compete in the 200-meter dash.