Track and Field Opens Rod McCravy Memorial with Standout PerformancesTrack and Field Opens Rod McCravy Memorial with Standout Performances

Track and Field Opens Rod McCravy Memorial with Standout Performances

by Alex Clough

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The UCF track and field team opened up its 2025 indoor season with an impactful performance at the Norton Health Sports and Learning Center.

Headlined by six personal bests, seven qualifications into tomorrow's semis and an abundance of top-10 placements in today's finals, the Knights didn't take long to hit the ground running.

A first introduction to the jumps squad under first-year assistant coach Brody Honeycutt saw two Knights qualify for the finals in the long jump, along with a pair of new career bests. Asherah Collins led the charge in her indoor debut, securing a third-overall finish with a strong 6.03m mark in her first jump of the day.

Natalia Madison, who will serve as the premier multis athlete for the Knights in 2025, showed her versatility, placing seventh with a new personal-best 5.95m jump.

The first action of the year came in fitting fashion, as sophomore Alexis Waller shattered her record in the long jump. The Texas native secured a 5.40m mark with her first attempt before topping that with an impressive 5.50m in her second.

Women’s Long Jump

In the first track event of the afternoon, I’Asia Wilson and Coco Branch tallied quality qualifications into Saturday’s 60m semifinal. The former won heat two convincingly with a 7.42, while Branch clocked a 7.59 in heat three to place second. North Texas transfer Deja Shaw-Huckaby opened her career in Black and Gold with a respectable 7.67, a time she’ll look to build on in the coming weeks.

Minutes later, all five Knights punched their tickets to the 60m hurdles final tomorrow afternoon. After a third-place finish at the 2024 Big 12 Indoor Championships in the event, fifth-year Adaobi Tabugbo commenced her final collegiate campaign with the fastest time in prelims at 8.24. She was followed by Ese Awusa who looked back to her best with an impressive 8.35. Y’Vette Harris (8.71), Natalia Madison (8.87) and Brianna Rodriguez (8.98) rounded out the field.

In the first track final, six suiting up in Black and Gold competed in the 300m, as Kiah Williams showed her prowess with a 37.94 and third-place finish, a new personal best. The same goes for Twaneise Johnson, crossing the line at 38.04 and in fifth for an adequate UCF debut. Sophomore Janiah Pulliam looks set for a breakout season as the North Carolina native placed 11th with a time of 38.95.

300m

A tandem of Knights competed in the 600m, with Y’Vette Harris capping off her impressive day in eighth with a time of 1:39.93. SMU transfer Jasmine Jolly landed just behind in ninth, crossing the line at 1:40.04.

Familiar faces were among top-15 in the 200m, with I’Asia Wilson solidifying her presence in the event with a fourth-place finish at 24.06. Already through to the 60m hurdles semis, both Tabugbo (24.51, 11th) and Awusa (24.51, 13th) authored strong conclusions to day two. Freshman Aaliyah Gipson made her collegiate debut with a 25.12.

Friday's action came to a close in the distance medley relay, as a young Knights squad consisting of Kendall Hughes, Karin Dobiasch, Raquel Edwards and Gianna Del Pizzo placed fifth with a time of 12:33.28.

UCF will be back in action tomorrow with the women's triple jump at 11 a.m. Two semifinals will open the track slate, with the 60m at 12 p.m. before the hurdles at 12.25. The Knights will offer seven athletes between the two.