BOSTON – It was yet another impressive day from the UCF track and field team on Friday, with multiple all-time top-10 positions secured and a decade-long record was broken, the Knights are looking ready for their title defense in Birmingham.
"We had a great day today, lots of top five performances in school history and a freshman record go down," said UCF head coach Dana Boone on the squad's performance. "The team is stepping up and making strides in the right direction, this is what you want to see as a coach two weeks out from conference. Super excited for this team!"
Isabella Richardson, who broke the freshman 5k record during the cross country season, bested Anne-Marie Blaney's 10-year-old freshman 3k record with a personal best 9:39.99. Throughout the season, Richardson has been building towards this, and on Friday at Boston University she put her name into the track record books.
Fellow distance freshman Penelopa Sosa also had an outstanding race in the 3k, setting a personal record with a 10:04.92. She now sits 10th in program history, joining Richardson who remains in second. Mariana Rodriguez (4:51.89) and Lillian Holtery (4:53.01) both set mile PRs, with Rodriguez now moving to fourth all-time in program history.
At Clemson, Asherah Collins stole the show in long jump with her 6.21m mark, which is now second in program history. Collins has made fantastic progress from the first meet and is now shifting up the record books with her personal record. Rayniah Jones had her best day of the season thus far, reaching the finals in the 60-meter hurdles and setting a season best with her semis time of 8.08. She was joined in the last eight by Kaylor Harris, who set a personal record with her time of 8.15 and now sits third all-time in program history.
The sprints and field squads will be back at it tomorrow for day two at Clemson while distance will head back to Orlando and begin preparation for the AAC Indoor Championship in two weeks.
Valentine Invitational
800M
94. Katie Pinnell (2:13.47)
99. Kendall Hughes (2:13.47)
MILE
85. Mariana Rodriguez (4:51.89) *
94. Lillian Holtery (4:53.01)
196. Mackenzie Czurak (5:10.17)
3000M
Isabella Richardson (9:39.99) *!
Penelope Sosa (10:04.92) *
Ali Del Re (10:06.97) *
Riley Jaszczak (10:23.70)
Paige Jaszczak (10:24.37)
Rachel Wheatley (10:35.89)
Brenna Mullaney (10:37.37) *
Tiger Paw Invite
60M HURDLES (PRELIMS/SEMIS/FINALS)
2. Rayniah Jones (8.12) q / 3. (8.08) q /
11. Kaylor Harris (8.30) q / 8. (8.19) q /
25. Alicia Coleman (8.57)
LONG JUMP
9. Asherah Collins (6.21m) *
23. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (5.97m)
45. Natalia Madison (5.66m)
51. Leiya Green (5.55m)
WEIGHT THROW
18. Ashlyn Green (16.17m)
60M DASH (PRELIMS/SEMIS)
16. Daija Lampkin (7.35) q / 20. (7.35)
31. Beyonce Defreitas (7.46) *
34. Janyah Jasper (7.47)
42. I'Asia Wilson (7.52)
43. Kaylor Harris (7.52)
59. Ani Wells (7.66)
400M DASH
25. Latasha Smith (53.47)
26. Kiah Williams (53.52) *
63. Kai'lyn Kirkland (55.76)
