ORLANDO – Week three of the indoor season has arrived as the distance squad is set to represent the UCF Track and Field team at the Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, from Jan. 26-27. In past seasons, the Knights have consistently made the trip north to the Rock Norman Track and Field Complex, one of the nation’s top indoor facilities.
This weekend, the likes of Charlotte Crook, fresh off breaking her own program record in the 1000m at the Corky Classic a week ago, will compete amongst a strong field at Clemson.
The aforementioned Crook has made a resounding return to the track after missing the 2023 campaign, already pushing her personal best in multiple events. Last week’s historical performance broke her previous record by .04 seconds as she took third place in the event in Lubbock, Texas. Through her two individual events thus far, the English native has notched two top-five performances (3000m and 1000m).
Continuing to raise the bar 💪
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) January 20, 2024
Charlotte breaks her own program record in the 1000m‼️ pic.twitter.com/D94xDqOV0l
Crook’s last outing at Clemson saw her set a personal best in the mile with her time of 4:47.77, winning the event and setting the program's second-best performance all-time.
Standout freshman Hannah Taylor has been getting smoothly accustomed to collegiate track and field through the early weeks of the campaign. Following her first-place finish in the 800m at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational with her 2:11.41 performance, the Scottish native followed it up with a ninth-place time of 1:23.81 in the 600m at Texas Tech.
Multiple Knights shined throughout Saturday’s action at the Corky Classic, with six other athletes securing top-10 performances in their respective events.
English native and freshman Abigail Stratton placed fifth in the 800m with her time of 2:11.04, the best mark in the event by a Knight this season. Strides behind her was sophomore Kendall Hughes who continues to be improving upon a strong first year in Orlando.
Another pack of exceptional sophomores shinned in the 3000m, the event that will commence the Bob Pollack Invitational for the Knights on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Isabella Richardson finished third in her season debut, running a 10:03.04 to lead UCF.
Penelope Sosa and Paige Jaszczak were separated by just under a second as both secured sixth and seventh-place finishes respectfully.
COMPETING: 24 SCHOOLS - ALABAMA, BYU, CINCINNATI, GEORGIA TECH, MINNESOTA, NC STATE, RUTGERS, SYRACUSE, TENNESSEE, CLEMSON, WAKE FORREST, FLORIDA STATE, ETC.
This weekend will mark the first of two trips UCF will make to South Carolina as it will wrap up the indoor regular season next month from Feb. 9-10 at the Tiger Paw Invite.