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Knights Break Multiple Records to Cap Off Tom Jones Invitational

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The UCF Track and Field continues to get stronger with each meet as the squad saw multiple personal and season bests, highlighted by Latasha Smith setting a new program record in the 400-meter dash with her time of 51.47. Smith is now the third individual athlete to break a program record this season, joining Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (Triple Jump) and Adrienne Adams (Discus), who too previously held the record before breaking it yet again.

We competed well this weekend and we had some great performances on the track and in the field," said head Coach Dana Boone following the meet. "We had numerous personal best today as well as a new school record in the 4x4, we lined up against some of the best in the country and we held our own! I'm very proud of this team and the progress they continue to make."

Kiah Williams trailed just behind the record-setting Smith as she ran the second-fastest time in program history with her remarkable 51.59 performance. The two ran the first sub-52 400-meter dashes in program history as they both have their eyes set on the conference championships next month.

Rayniah Jones kicked off the running events with a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles prelims with a time of 13.05. Though the All-American was just getting started as later in the day she won the event with her third-best time of the season, an impressive 12.80. The win was her second of the year and second consecutive win at the University of Florida. In the 100-meter dash, Beyonce Defreitas led the Knights in tenth with her time of 11.23. She was followed by I'Asia Wilson, who ran the tenth fastest time in program history at 11.43, and Ani Wells who ran a new personal best at 11.51.

Kaliah Jones was the standout performer from the jumps squad today as she matched her personal best of 1.73m, taking fourth place in a stacked field.

The day was capped with an outstanding squad performance in the 4x400-meter relay, as Daija Lampkin, Kiah Williams, Rayniah Jones and Latasha Smith set a new program record with their time of 3:31.42. It's now the second consecutive season the program record has fallen as in 2022, Williams and Smith were a part of the squad that ran a 3:31.88.

Saturday Results

DISCUS THROW
8. Adrienne Adams (51.99m / 170-7)

HIGH JUMP
4. Kaliah Jones (1.73m / 5-8)
15. Holly Cassels (1.58m / 5-2.25)

100M HURDLES (Prelims/Finals)
4. Rayniah Jones (13.05) / 1. Rayniah Jones (12.80)
16. Kaylor Harris (13.41)
37. Alicia Coleman (14.03)
43. Tamia Badal (14.53)

TRIPLE JUMP
8. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo (12.54m / 41-1.75)
12. Asherah Collins (12.31m / 40-4.75)

4X100 RELAY
5. Ani Wells, I'Asia Wilson, Beyonce Defreitas, Janyah Jasper (43.95)

800M RUN\
31. Katie Pinnell (2:08.96)
32. Mariana Rodriguez* (2:09.02)
53. Kendall Hughes (2:13.91)

400M DASH
6. Latasha Smith* (51.47)
8. Kiah Williams* (51.59)

100M DASH
10. Beyonce Defreitas (11.23)
24. I'Asia Wilson (11.43)
31. Ani Wells (11.51)
45. Paige Archer (11.65)

4X400 RELAY

5. Daija Lampkin, Kiah Williams, Rayniah Jones, Latasha Smith (3:31.42)