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Track and Field Claims Personal Bests and Event Wins to Open Knights Invite

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO – The second of two home meets to commence the 2024 outdoor campaign got underway for the UCF track and field team as it shinned in front of the home faithful during the Friday slate of the Knights Invite. Led by multiple personal bests and the second NCAA lead this season, UCF picked up right where it left off last weekend at the UCF Track and Field Complex.

Five Knights competed in the long jump as two would lead the way among the top 10. Leiya Green secured an eighth-place finish with her 5.85m mark, followed by Madison in 10th and her 5.77m performance. Holly Cassels smashed her personal best with her 5.73m mark and a 13th-place finish.

Minutes before her season debut in the long jump, Madison claimed 29th in the javelin throw with her 23.85 performance.

After a personal best to open her 2024 outdoor slate, Kiah Williams dropped her time in the 200m once again as she continues to climb up the record books. Taking heat one and the race in style, Williams went sub-23 for the first time in her career with a 22.95 to lead the Knights brigade.

The All-American was followed by two more Knights in the top five as Rayniah Jones placed fourth in her first 200m of the outdoor season, clocking a 22.37. I’Asia Wilson followed in fifth with a personal best of her own at 23.45. Rounding out seven athletes in Black and Gold, freshman Kate Henselmeier ran her best collegiate time with her 25.01 performance.

Kendall Hughes led the way in the 1500m as she was within two seconds of her personal best after clocking a 4:34.99 to claim ninth. Ali Del Re, who broke out during the indoor season, finished 16th with a personal-best 4:40.51. Trailing her was freshman Abby Clements in 25th (4:45.81) and Andrea Ballestero (4:47.23) in 29th who claimed a personal record of her own.

The 5000m concluded action Friday night. Riley Jaszczak, running alongside her twin, smashed her personal best with a fifth-place finish and a time of 17:55.18. Trailing seconds behind her sixth was Paige who clocked in at 18:14.39 and claimed a sixth-place finish.

UCF will be back in action tomorrow morning as the program will honor its seniors with a ceremony at 11:30 a.m.