Y'Vette Harris Sets Freshman Pentathlon Record at Vanderbilt InivtationalY'Vette Harris Sets Freshman Pentathlon Record at Vanderbilt Inivtational

Y'Vette Harris Sets Freshman Pentathlon Record at Vanderbilt Inivtational

by Alex Clough

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The UCF track and field squad kicked off its second weekend of competition with strong performances from the field squad at the Vanderbilt Invitational. Four Knights secured personal bests including Y’Vette Harris’ remarkable freshman record in her first collegiate pentathlon.

It was a good start to the weekend! The Multis kicked it off with some great performances and a freshman record. They had lots of personal best and we look forward to seeing their continued growth. It was a solid opener for Asherah and we are looking forward to everyone competing tomorrow.

Head coach Dana Boone

Multis season got into full swing as three athletes competed in their first pentathlon of the season in Nashville. Y’Vette Harris made her collegiate debut in the event as she joined tenured Knights Holly Cassels and Natalia Madison.

Harris set the pace in the day's first event, claiming fourth in the 60m hurdles with her time of 8.76, followed by Madison in fifth (8.82). In the high jump, Madison continued her prowess in the event, placing third and adding 783 more points with her 1.64m mark. Cassels secured a top 10 finish with her 1.55m performance, followed by Harris in 21st who was beginning to keep pace with the program’s freshman record (3,316), set by Cassels in 2022.

In the shot put, which Harris and Madison set early personal bests in last weekend, all three Knights landed among the top 15. Madison led the way once again in third with her 11.66m mark, picking up 639 points as she would eventually take over first place after a new personal best 5.94m performance in the long jump and another third-place finish. The Palm Beach Gardens native secured 1,470 points in the two events.

The final event saw three outstanding performances from each, as Madison secured a new personal best in the 800m (2:38.23) and 593 points to set a new record in the pentathlon (3,794), as she remains in second in program history.

Cassels took first in the event, continuing her history of dominating in the 800m, setting a new personal best of 2:23.38. With the potential of history on the horizon before the gun fired, Harris showed composure, claiming eighth (2:29.23) and 703 more points to secure the UCF freshman record in the pentathlon (3,440).

Asherah Collins made her season debut in the long jump, picking up right where she left off with a second-place finish in the event with her 6.09m mark. Collins will continue her opening weekend tomorrow in the triple jump at 3 p.m. ET.

In the unseeded long jump, Alexis Waller notched her second-consecutive meet with a personal best to commence her collegiate career. The Texas native notched a 5.34m jump and an 11th-place finish.