Tabugbo Wins Hurdles to Highlight Day Two of Stan Scott InviteTabugbo Wins Hurdles to Highlight Day Two of Stan Scott Invite

Tabugbo Wins Hurdles to Highlight Day Two of Stan Scott Invite

by Alex Clough

LUBBOCK, Texas - The UCF track and field team was brilliant throughout an action-packed evening at Texas Tech’s Sports Performance Center. Day two of the Stan Scott Invite was headlined by Adaobi Tabugbo’s time of 8.06 to win the 60m hurdles, a display that ranks among the top 10 in the nation this year.

The premier events of the evening came on the straightaway, with three rounds of each of the 60m and 60m hurdles providing plenty of action. 

UCF took care of business in the opening rounds of both, qualifying each athlete into the semis. The hurdles saw Ese Awusa continue to hammer down her personal best (8.34) with an 8.36 to claim first in heat one. Three more Knights joined her in the sixth and final heat, with Tabugbo highlighting the field with the fastest first-round time of 8.26, followed by sophomores Y’Vette Harris (8.64) and Brianna Rodriguez (8.92).

I’Asia Wilson and Coco Branch led the way in the 60m to punch their tickets to the semis. Wilson clocked a 7.37 to win the eighth heat and place fourth overall. Branch advanced with a season-best 7.52 in 12th. While missing qualification by just one place, freshman Aaliyah Gipson dropped her 60m-best once again with her 7.62 in the second heat.

A pair of strong outings in the 600-yard saw Twaneise Johnson, competing in her first three-lapper, place second at 1:23.07. SMU transfer Jasmine Jolly clocked a personal best with her 1:29.53.

The lone jumps event of the night produced a ninth-place finish for Asherah Collins (5.70m) in the long jump. She was followed by Alexis Waller in 16th (5.47m).

In the semis of the 60m hurdles, the Knights qualified two while three set new personal bests. Once again, Tabugbo led the charge with her second-place time of 8.15. Having consistently closed the gap on her career record, Awusa finally smashed it, running an 8.23 to place sixth and join her fellow Nigerian in the finals.

The sophomores, Harris (8.44) and Rodriguez (8.76) fell just outside the top eight, though their performances will surely give the tandem confidence down the final stretch of the regular season. In the second of two semifinals, Wilson would place fifth to secure her spot in the final round with a time of 7.36.

Finals rarely disappoint and that was once again the case in Lubbock, as Tabugbo broke through the field in the 60m hurdles to win the event with a new personal-best 8.06. The performance ranks as one of the best in the nation this year and solidifies her place of third in the program record books. Awusa would conclude her great day with an eighth-place finish and a time of 8.45.

In the last event of the day, Wilson would secure another top-five placement in the 60m, finishing fourth with her 7.30 among a strong field.

The Knights will be back in action tomorrow starting at noon with the triple jump before track events begin at 1 p.m. with the 200m.