BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UCF Track and Field squad showed out on their first day of the AAC Indoor Championships, putting themselves in a good position entering day two for the chance at retaining their title. Plenty of personal bests were set along with multiple top-five finishes as the eight races and two field events will decide how the Knights cap off their last indoor meet in The American.
It was a good day for us, for the most part, we did what we needed to do in order to give ourselves a chance to defend the title," said head coach Dana Boone on the day one showing. "We will rest up and prepare to compete tomorrow."
Natalia Madison (3,755) and Holly Cassels (3,627) picked up the first set of points for the Knights as both set new personal bests in the pentathlon. On top of the new best marks, each set three personal bests en route to fifth and seventh-place finishes. Lillian Holtery and Mariana Rodriguez were the first Knights to advance to tomorrow's finals as Holtery's 4:54.78 and Rodriguez's 5:01.49 secured their spots into tomorrow's mile race.
Kiah Williams and the reigning 400-meter dash champion Latasha Smith advanced with the two fastest times in the prelims. Williams followed Smith's 54.09 with a 54.14 time of her own. UCF stayed perfect through the 60-meter hurdles as Alicia Coleman (8.55) and Kaylor Harris (8.35) joined the conference record holder Rayniah Jones (8.23) in the finals. The hurdles were immediately followed by the 60-meter dash where six of the seven Knights qualified. The star of the event was Beyoncé Defreitas who set a new personal best with her 7.34 mark, the fastest time in the event.
Asherah Collins and Jasmine Scott-Kilgo gave the Black and Gold their second set of points in the long jump. Collins landed in sixth with her 6.05m/19-9.75 mark, followed by Scott-Kilgo who had a 6.01m/19-8.75 jump. Five of seven advanced in the 200-meter dash along with the same tally for new personal bests, highlighted Williams who ran a 23.92. Defreitas capped off her brilliant first day with a second-place finish and a 23.73 time.
Isabella Richardson ran the program's fifth-best time in the 5k with a time of 17:05.45 a heat after her fellow freshman teammate Penelope Sosa ran a 17:36.31, the fifth-best mark in program history. The distance medley relay squad of Mariana Rodriguez, Katie Pinnell, Kendall Hughes, and Lillian Holtery gave UCF its final points of the day as their time of 11:39.04 gave them a fourth-place finish along with the fourth-best time in program history.
UCF will enter day two in seventh with 15 points, though with eighteen Knights set to compete in finals, there is plenty of reason for the squad to arrive on Saturday with the same mission in mind, defend their crown.
UCF Results
Pentathlon
5. Natalia Madison (3,755)
7. Holly Cassels (3,627)
Mile Run (Prelims)
8. Lillian Holtery (4:54.78) Q
11. Mariana Rodriguez (5:01.49) Q
400M Dash (Prelims)
1. Latasha Smith (54.09) Q
2. Kiah Williams (54.14) Q
60M Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Rayniah Jones (8.23) Q
4. Kaylor Harris (8.35) Q
8. Alicia Coleman (8.55) Q
60M Dash (Prelims)
1. Beyoncé Defreitas (7.34)* Q
2. Rayniah Jones (7.35) Q
3. Daija Lampkin (7.39) Q
6. Janyah Jasper (7.41) Q
7. I'Asia Wilson (7.44) Q
8. Ani Wells (7.51)* Q
9. Kaylor Harris (7.51)
Long Jump
6. Asherah Collins (6.05m/19-9.75)
8. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (6.01m/19-8.75)
9. Leiya Green (5.77m/18-11.25)
800M Run (Prelims)
9. Kendall Hughes (2:14.29)
12. Katie Pinnell (2:16.37)
200M (Prelims)
2. Beyoncé Defreitas (23.73)* Q
3. Daija Lampkin (23.88) Q
4. Kiah Williams (23.92)* Q
5. Rayniah Jones (23.99) Q
8. Janyah Jasper (24.15)* Q
14. Ani Wells (24.39)*
15. I'Asia Wilson (24.39)*
5000M
12. Isabella Richardson (17:05.45)
18. Penelope Sosa (17:36.31)*
24. Paige Jaszczak (18:04.72)
25. Riley Jaszczak (18:04.73)
26. Ali Del Re (18:07.93)
Weight Throw
13. Ashlyn Green (15.91m/52-2.50)
DMR
4. Mariana Rodriguez, Katie Pinnell, Kendall Hughes, Lillian Holtery (11:39.04)