ORLANDO, Fla. - With a foundational 2024 performance from the program in its first Big 12 season, head coach Dana Boone and the UCF track and field squad return to action this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Knights' acclimation into one of the nation’s premier conferences saw multiple highlights, including now-former Knight Rayniah Jones’ third-overall finish in the 100m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last summer. While the ‘hurdles queen’ put an exclamation on her UCF career in her final race, her two fellow national qualifiers, Asherah Collins and Kiah Williams, return to lead a talented roster in 2025.
With more established athletes in the aforementioned graduates and consistent contributors such as I’Asia Wilson, Natalia Madison and Adaobi Tabugbo, a few new faces will provide the squad with a fresh look ahead of its sophomore slate.
SPRINTS/HURDLES
A constant strength for the Knights during the Boone era, there is plenty to be excited about throughout the sprints and hurdles groups. Kiah Williams, who tallied her second-career All-America honor in the 400m at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships last year, will look to conclude her UCF career with a bid to indoor nationals in March. With potential to score in both the 200m and 400m at the conference championships, she will serve as a leader both on and off the track for the Black and Gold.
Senior I’Asia Wilson made a promising jump during her junior year, advancing once again to the NCAA east prelims and playing an integral role in the Knights’ 4x100m relay squad. She is joined by returning juniors Paige Archer and Coco Branch, who continue to drop times in both the 100m and 200m. Janiah Pulliam and Briana Rodriguez will each enter their second year in Orlando, with both having a respectable freshman season to build upon.
Adaobi Tabugbo enters her final collegiate season with plenty of goals as the former BYU standout placed third in the 60m hurdles at the 2024 Big 12 indoor championships before running unattached during the outdoor campaign to provide a full 2025 slate. She’s joined by sophomore Y’Vette Harris as the tandem will lead the hurdles group. The California native had a remarkable freshman season which saw her advance to the NCAA east prelims in the 100m hurdles, while also securing a finals appearance in the same event at the USA U-20 Championships.
A standout transfer class boasts multiple athletes with both Big 12 and Power 4 experience, along with standout names from multiple levels of the collegiate landscape. Kylah Buckle (Tennessee), Twaneise Johnson (Kansas State), and Deja Shaw-Huckaby (North Texas/Oklahoma) each add experienced resumes with the potential to be key performers during the conference championships.
Khristel Martindale (Lewis College), Jasmine Jolly (SMU) and Jazmen Newberry (UAlbany) will also bring depth to the squads, with the latter possessing multiple American East titles. Aaliyah Gipson, one of the highest rated recruits to embark on UCF, will be joined by Maryland native McKenzie Suggs to start their journeys in Orlando.