WACO, Texas - The UCF cross country team is primed for its second Big 12 Championship Friday afternoon in Waco, Texas, hosted at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. The women’s 6k will start at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT.
Fans can follow along here along with a live stream on ESPN+.
Athletes who finish among the top 15 will be tabbed All-Conference athletes, along with a Newcomer and Runner of the Year which will be decided by coaches and announced the following Thursday, December 5.
Second-year distance coach Bryan Harmon and his squad have enjoyed a promising sophomore campaign in one of the nation’s premier cross country leagues. Junior Kendall Hughes has been a standout performer for the Knights across three regular-season competitions, headlined by a trio of personal bests across the 5k and 6k.
Hughes will joined by fellow third-year Penelope Sosa, Paige Jaszczak and Riley Jaszczak. In 2023 at the program’s inaugural trip to the conference championships, Sosa placed 62nd with an impressive 21:47.2. Clements and Piage Jaszczak were each able to place among the top 100.
As a team, UCF placed 11th, third among newcomers and ahead of two established Big 12 programs. Abby Clements was among the top pack of Knights and has been in great form ahead of the conference championships, garnering a 6k personal best at the Bradley Pink Classic earlier this month.
She’ll be joined by a pair of freshmen, Avery Latto and Ava Quattrocchi, who have made impressive marks in their first collegiate campaigns.
Competing for the Knights
- Abby Clements (So.) - 6k best: 21:57.63
- Kendall Hughes (Jr.) - 6k best: 21:46.0
- Paige Jaszczak (Jr.) - 6k best: 21:50.4
- Riley Jaszczak (Jr.) - 6k best: 21:53.0
- Avery Latto (Fr.) - 6k best: 23:13.7
- Ava Quattrocchi (Fr.): 6k best: 22:16.3
- Penelope Sosa (Jr.) - 6k best: 21:08.5