ORLANDO - It will be all hands on deck for the UCF track and field team this weekend as the sprint, distance, and jumps squads will be making the trip to South Carolina for the Orange and Purple Invite, hosted by Clemson.
Since head coach Dana Boone arrived in Orlando, the Knights have consistently made the trip to the Clemson Indoor Facility, as this weekend’s competition will serve as one of the premier meets in the nation. With multiple Southeastern Conference programs making the trip, UCF will be the lone Big 12 Conference squad.
STARTING BLOCKS
- Standouts from this season will return to Clemson after competing in last year's Tiger Paw Invite. Senior I’Asia Wilson will return to the 60m and 200m as UCF’s top performer in these events so far this season. Senior Asherah Collins will also be looking to best her result from last year after taking flight to a fifth-place finish in the triple jump in Clemson a season ago.
- UCF’s top 400m runner, senior Kiah Williams, will additionally be running in the 4x400m, while 60m hurdle powerhouse Adaobi Tabugbo will be adding the 200m event to her list of duties again this weekend.
- This returning cast will be accompanied by multiple standout distance athletes. Juniors Penelope Sosa and Kendall Hughes each tallied top-10 finishes a week ago, with Sosa set to take on the 3000m, while Hughes will return to the 1000m and mile.
EVENTS TO WATCH
- 400m (Friday at 6 p.m.) - Williams returns to Clemson with hopes of replicating her 1st place finish in the 400m in the first meet of the season, accompanied by sophomore Twaneise Johnson who secured a third-place finish behind her.
- Triple Jump (Saturday at 1 p.m.) - As she continues to turn eyes, Collins will only have one event to focus on this weekend with hopes of securing yet another first-place finish in her second meet of the season. Also competing in the triple jump for the Knights will be junior Angelina Horn, making her UCF debut, and sophomore Alexis Waller.
COMPETING SCHOOLS
Clemson, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Charlotte, East Carolina, App State, Charleston Southern, Youngstown State, Western Carolina