ORLANDO, Fla. –This weekend, the UCF track and field team will look to solidify its status as a dynasty, as it travels west to the University of South Florida for the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships. On the back of an incredible regular season, where the squad remained in the top-25 for just the third time in program history, head coach Dana Boone will look to lead the three-time conference champions to their second consecutive sweep of the AAC and leave on top.
REGULAR SEASON ROUNDUP
With two home meets to get the season underway, the Knights hit the ground running. With multiple performances that were among the best in the nation, UCF checked in at 3rd in the first USTFCCCA Poll of the season, the highest rank in program history. Adrienne Adams led the nation in the discus following her career-best 57.76m throw at the Knights Invite, as she broke her own program record three times over the first two weeks. Jasmine Scott-Kilgo set the new program record in the triple jump as both her and Asherah Collins continue to lead one of the best jumps squads in the nation. The distance group saw multiple breakout performances, as freshmen Isabella Richardson and Kendall Hughes shined in their first outdoor season. Mariana Rodriguez finished the regular season with dominating performances all-around, as she now has top-10 marks in four separate events.
Kiah Williams and Latasha Smith both set new career-bests in the 400-meter dash as Smith currently holds the tenth best time in the nation with her program record 51.47 performance at the Tom Jones Invitational last month. Beyonce Defreitas got off to a flying start with multiple top-10 program times over the squad's first three meets. Rayniah Jones continued to drop her times in the 100-meter hurdles before her eventual program record performance at the East Coast Relays with her all-conditional best time of 12.63. Newcomers Daija Lampkin and Janyah Jasper have added even more talent to one of the best sprint squads in the nation as both hold the fourth and fifth best times in the conference.
LOOKING FOR FOUR
With a new era in the program's history on the horizon, the Knights make the short trip to Tampa, Florida for their final appearance in the American Athletic Conference. In February, UCF was inspired by a sweep in the sprint events at the Indoor Championships as they topped Cincinnati, who finished with 100-plus points for the first time since 2018. The Bearcats, along with Houston, will each look to leave the AAC on top as they too will join UCF in the Big 12 next season.
Entering the three-day meet, the Black and Gold lead the conference in eight events, along with multiple athletes in the top-three. Friday will get underway with the hammer throw at 11 am, along with the first event of the heptathlon as Holly Cassels and Natalia Madison begin their weekend with the 100-meter hurdles. Sunday will see the finals in the majority of track events along with the triple jump and discus.
FOLLOW ALONG
All three days will be streamed on ESPN+ and you can buy tickets at this link.
