Track and Field Concludes Outdoor Homestand with Knights InviteTrack and Field Concludes Outdoor Homestand with Knights Invite

Track and Field Concludes Outdoor Homestand with Knights Invite

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO – Outdoor season rolls on for the UCF track and field team as it’ll continue its home slate with the Knights Invite at the Track and Field Complex this weekend. The final of two meets to commence the second half of UCF’s inaugural season in the Big 12 will see more than 30 programs make the journey for the Invite.

A week ago, multiple athletes opened up their outdoor seasons in style, including Asherah Collins who currently leads the nation in the long jump with her 6.31m mark. Kiah Williams, who ran the seventh-fastest 200m in program history (23.11), sits third in the NCAA.

Friday’s action will begin with the hammer throw at 11 a.m. with Ashlyn Green set to represent the Black and Gold after an 11th-place finish in her debut. The field events will continue with the long jump at 1 p.m., javelin throw at 1:30 p.m. and the shot put at 5 p.m.

Five Knights will compete in the long jump, including Natalia Madison who will immediately transition into her first javelin throw of the season. The first track event of the day will see freshman Briana Rodriguez line up for the 400m hurdles at 5 p.m.

Led by three Knights in heat one, the 200m will include seven total athletes from UCF. Rayniah Jones, I’Asia Wilson and Kiah Williams will lead the charge and look to claim all three podium spots. The 1500m will mark the first distance event of the weekend at 5:50 p.m. as six athletes will run across six heats.

After setting a personal best in the 2000m steeplechase, Brenna Mullaney will look to continue her good form in the season’s first 3000m steeplechase at 8:25 p.m. Friday’s action will conclude with twins, Paige and Riley and Jaszczak, competing in the 5000m at 9 p.m.

Thirteen Knights will be honored at 11:30 a.m. to begin Saturday’s slate. The group includes Tamia Badal, Janyah Jasper, Kai’lyn Kirkland, Kiah Williams, Holly Cassels, Asherah Collins, Ashlyn Green, Leiya Green, Nicole Whitaker, Charlotte Crooke, Ali Del Re, Brenna Mullaney and Camryn Williams.

All-American Asherah Collins, alongside Waller and Madison, will compete in the triple jump at noon. Head coach Dana Boone will present her first 4x100m team of the season at noon to begin action on the track.

Karin Dobiasch will compete in the 800m at 12:20 p.m. before a string of three highly anticipated events on the track. Rayniah Jones will make her 100m hurdles debut at 1:35 p.m. following her eighth All-America honor at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston earlier this month.

In the 400m, freshman Kate Henselmeier will compete alongside Williams who is running her first of the outdoor season. Sprints will wrap up with the 100m at 3:50 p.m. with five Knights set to run at the gun.

Abby Clements will embark on the 3000m at 4:30 p.m. before the 4x400m relay caps off the weekend at 5 p.m.

Admission will be free for all fans.

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