AUSTIN, Texas – An historic season for head coach Dana Boone and her squad will conclude at the 2023 NCAA Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Texas this week at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. The four-day competition, which for decades has seen the greats of this sport all vie for glory, began Wednesday afternoon with the first day of the men's competition. The women start Thursday with the majority of semifinals and certain field competitions serving as the introduction for seven of the eight Knights who have qualified for the big stage.
The Knights are one of just four schools with multiple athletes competing in the 100-meter hurdles, as six-time All-American Rayniah Jones will be joined by Kaylor Harris in tomorrow's semifinal.
The 2023 edition of the national championships will run from June 7-10 and will serve as just the third time in program history the Knights have sent eight athletes. The 2011 squad was joined by last year's Eugene Eight, as UCF is in the midst of another golden generation. The squad was ranked third in the nation earlier in the season, the highest in school history. The 2013 team, which included not just program but UCF legends Aurieyall Scott and Jackie Coward, finished fifth (35 points), the best performance to date.
Both Thursday and Saturday will be televised live on ESPN2, with coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on day one and 9 p.m. ET for the final day. Select events will be streamed on ESPN+, including both the Long and Triple Jump.
Below are the season recap and event previews for each athlete, along with the 4x100m squad.
Rayniah Jones / 100m Dash and 100m Hurdles
Season Recap: For the first time in her historic career, Jones will embark on three events at the NCAA National Championships, as the recent graduate and Order of Pegasus recipient continues to push the limits each campaign. Following a trip to the Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico in late February, the Miami native got her season started with three consecutive first-place finishes in the 100-meter hurdles. Her season was capped off with a remarkable outing at the East Coast relays in Jacksonville, Florida, as she broke her own program record in the 100-meter hurdles (12.63), along with a new personal best in the 100-meter dash (11.17). That meet served to be a precursor to a fitting farewell tour at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships in Tampa, Florida. Jones took home gold in both the 100-meter hurdles and dash, along with a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash. She was yet again bestowed with the Most Valuable Performer, as Jones racked up 26 points of the 163 that propelled the Knights to their fourth consecutive AAC title. At the NCAA East Preliminary Round, where she returned to the Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Jones solidified her spot in three events at the Championships in Austin, Texas. Expect big things from one of the program's all-time greats.
Event Preview: As hosts, Texas leads the field with four qualifiers in the 100-meter dash, led by Julien Alfred (title holder) who currently holds the top time in the NCAA this season with her 10.83 performance from the West Prelims. Those four Longhorns will all be in heat one alongside Jones, who will look to make a splash in her first-ever 100m semifinals. Other notable contenders include Tennessee's Jacious Sears and USC's Caisja Chandler. Thursday's semifinal will begin at 9:46 pm ET/ 8:46 pm CT. The top two in each heat, along with the next three best times, will compete in the finals on Saturday.
For the 100-meter hurdles preview, continue reading.
2023 Results
100m Hurdles 100m Dash
13.41 (1st) / Knights Invite 11.17 (4th) / East Coast Relays
12.76 (1st) / Florida Relays 11.47 (2nd) / AAC Championships
12.75 (1st) / Florida Relays 10.94 (1st) / AAC Championships*
13.05 (4th) / Tom Jones Memorial 11.27 (17th) / AAC Championships
12.80 (1st) / Tom Jones Memorial 11.23 (12th) / AAC Championships
12.97 (3rd) / LSU Alumni Gold
12.63 (2nd) / East Coast Relays**
13.02 (1st) / AAC Championships
12.66 (1st) / AAC Championships
12.98 (6th) / East Preliminary
12.80 (10th) / East Preliminary
Kaylor Harris / 100m Hurdles
Season Recap: As the Texas Tech transfer embarked on her first outdoor season with the Knights, coach Boone welcomed yet another strong hurdler into the fold. Harris got her season underway with a third-place finish at the Knights Invite, the squad's second home meet, as the senior ran an impressive 13.78. From that point on, Harris has continued to drop her times in the event, running a 12.26 at both the Hurricane Alumni Invite and the East Coast Relays. Following a silver at the AAC Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles, she took home bronze in the Outdoor Championships with her time of 13.01, the third-best performance in program history. At the East Prelims, Harris ran two sub-13.10 performances as she qualified for her first-ever National Championships following her time of 13.02 in the quarterfinals. The Texas Native became the fourth Knights to qualify, a remarkable accomplishment in her swan song campaign.
Event Preview: This year's 100-meter hurdles field is arguably the strongest at this season's Championships, with multiple athletes having their eye on gold, and for good reason. LSU's Alia Armstrong will look to defend her title from last season, though she'll be joined by a few familiar faces. Jones will start in heat two alongside Kentucky's Masai Russell who currently holds the best time in the nation with her 12.36 performance in April. The 60-meter hurdles indoor champion, Ackera Nugent of Arkansas, will be in heat one, joining Coastal Carolina's Alexis Glasco. Thursday's semifinal will begin at 9:32 pm ET/8:32 pm CT. The top two in each heat, along with the next three best times, will compete in the finals on Saturday.
2023 Results
100m Hurdles
13.78 (3rd) / Knights Invite
13.37 (10th) / Florida Relays
13.26 (3rd) / Hurricane Alumni Invite
13.41 (16th) / Tom Jones Memorial
13.64 (10th) / LSU Alumni Gold
13.26 (10th) / East Coast Relays
13.16 (2nd) / AAC Championships
13.01 (3rd) / AAC Championships*
13.07 (10th) / NCAA East Prelims
13.02 (12th) / NCAA East Prelims
Kiah Williams / 400m Dash
Season Recap: It's been a breakout season for Williams to say the least, as the junior has truly found her stride in the 400-meter dash. Her first sub-52 time of her career came at the Tom Jones Memorial as both she and Latasha Smith showed out, with Williams running a 51.59. The AAC Indoor Champion in the event secured a silver medal at the Outdoor Championships with a time of 52.12, her second-best career performance. At the East Prelims, with a first-ever qualification to the National Championships on the line, Williams took third in the first round before punching her ticket with a time of 52.66 in the quarterfinals. She becomes the first athlete in program history to advance to the big stage in the 400-meter dash, the result of continued improvement in her three seasons in Orlando.
Event Preview: The Indoor Track and Field Champions, Arkansas, lead the field with five entries in the 400-meter dash. The NCAA record holder Britton Wilson, whose 49.13 at the SEC Championships set the new all-time performance, will be in heat one alongside Williams (Lane 2). Three other Razorbacks sit within the top 10, alongside the title holder, Talitha Diggs, who will race in heat 3. Thursday's semifinal will begin at 10 pm ET/ 9 pm CT. The top two in each heat, along with the next three best times, will compete in the finals on Saturday.
2023 Results
400m Dash
52.54 (7th) / Florida Relays
51.59 (8th) / Tom Jones Memorial
52.49 (2nd) / AAC Championships
52.49 (1st) / AAC Championships
52.29 (3rd) / NCAA East Prelims*
52.66 (11th) / NCAA East Prelims
Asherah Collins / Triple Jump
Season Recap: Being one of three Knights to embark on their third National Championships, Collins will look to advance to the finals for the first time in her career. The junior has had to battle through much adversity this season, though her strong will prevailed in incredible fashion. She opened the season with a fourth-place finish at the Black and Gold Invitational, jumping a 12.62m (41-5) mark. Collins would jump her first plus-13m mark of the season at the LSU Alumni Gold with her 13.15 (43-1.75) performance. At the AAC Outdoor Championships, she claimed her second career gold medal in the event, with her program-record 13.30m (43-7.75) jump. Collins showed no signs of slowing down at the East Prelims as she made quick work with her 13.19m (43-3.25) jump to punch her ticket for Austin, Texas.
Event Preview: The defending champion, Florida's Jasmine Moore, currently holds the nation's best mark with her 14.14m (46-4.75) jump at the SEC Championships. She will look to fend off an impressive field that includes Collins (Flight one), Texas Tech's Ruta Lasmane and Georgia's Mikeisha Welcome. It being Collins's third trip to the big stage, she will be alongside some familiar faces. Saturday's competition will begin at 9:10 pm ET/ 8:10 pm CT. The top nine will advance to the finals following the first two flights.
2023 Results
Triple Jump
12.62m; 41' 5" (4th) / Black and Gold Invitational
12.31m; 40' 4.75" (12th) / Tom Jones Memorial
13.15m; 43' 1.75" (2nd) / LSU Alumni Gold
13.30m; 43' 7.75" (1st) / AAC Championships*
13.19m; 43' 3.25" (10th) / NCAA East Prelims
Jasmine Scott-Kilgo / Long Jump
Season Recap: The Canadian native is in uncharted territories in her final collegiate season, as Scott-Kilgo qualified for her first-ever National Championships in the long jump. The senior continued to push the needle in her performances this season en route to Austin, Texas. Her season-best performance came in the opening meet, as her 6.38m (20-11.25) jump is currently fifth in program history. With a first-place finish at the LSU Alumni Gold Invitational, she followed that up with her second consecutive bronze medal at the AAC Outdoor Championships with her 6.19m (20-3.75) jump. She replicated that performance at the East Prelims as she punched an emphatic ticket to the National Championships, becoming the fourth athlete in program history to qualify in the long jump.
Event Preview: With the aforementioned Jasmine Moore of Florida holding the title in the long jump as well, there will be a determined field to knock the Gator off her stand. Texas's Ackelia Smith currently holds the top mark in the nation with her 7.08m (23-2.75) jump at the Big 12 Championships. Two other SEC athletes, Florida's Claire Bryant and Kentucky's Anthaya Charlton will look also to take the top spot. Scptt-Kilgo will begin in flight one. Thursday's competition will begin at 10 pm ET/ 9 pm CT. The top nine following the top two flights will advance to the finals.
2023 Results
Long Jump
6.38m; 20' 11.25" (3rd) / Black and Gold Invitational*
6.10m; 20' 0.25" (5th) / Florida Relays
6.35m; 20' 10" (6th) / Tom Jones Memorial
6.28m; 20' 7.25" (1st) / LSU Alumni Gold
6.19m; 20' 3.75" (3rd) / AAC Championships
6.19m; 20' 3.75" (12th) / NCAA East Prelims
4x100m Relay / Daija Lampkin, Rayniah Jones, Beyonce Defreitas and I'Asia Wilson
Season Recap: On the backs of their historic First Team All-American performance at last year's National Championships in Eugene, Oregon, finishing seventh with their time of 43.69, there will be one newcomer to join the squad this time around. Alabama transfer Daija Lampkin slotted into the first leg in her first 4x100m race of the season at the Black and Gold Invitational. The squad set to compete in Austin, Texas includes Rayniah Jones, Beyonce Defreitas, and I'Asia Wilson, three members of last season's group. They ran the third fastest time in program history with a 23.26 performance at the LSU Alumni Gold Invitational in late April, before taking gold at the AAC Outdoor Championships (without Jones). At the East Prelims, the squad took fifth to punch their ticket to Austin. This will be the eighth occasion that the Knights have sent a 4x100m relay squad to the National Championships, finishing runner-up in 2013.
Event Preview: The defending champions and hosts, Texas, broke the collegiate record earlier this season with their time of 41.89 at the Big 12 Championships. Though the field is as stiff as ever, plenty of squads will look to garner first-team All-America status and challenge the Longhorns. The Knights will begin in heat one (lane eight), alongside Kentucky, who currently have the second-best time (42.81) in the nation. Georgia, LSU, and Arkansas will join Kentucky, all looking to topple their future SEC opponents. Thursday's semifinals will begin at 8:32 pm ET/ 7:32 pm CT. The top two from each, along with the next three best times, will compete in the final on Saturday.